This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Published on September 30, 2019, Philip Muchiri's encounter with Doha's extreme heat is a cautionary tale for foreigners visiting the desert emirate.
As a journalist covering the IAAF World Athletics Championship and the 2022 World Cup Finals, Muchiri found himself struggling to cope with the blistering temperatures.
On a particularly sweltering Sunday morning, Muchiri received a call from fellow Kenyan scribe James Mwamba, informing him that Sports Cabinet Secretary Amb Amina Mohamed would be visiting Team Kenya at Doha's City Centre in 30 minutes.
Muchiri rushed to get ready, but his tardiness was compounded by the city's notorious traffic, which left him 45 minutes late for the meeting.
Undeterred, Muchiri decided to walk the remaining 1.7 kilometers to the venue, Edzan Tower 3, but the heat proved too much, and he was forced to stop another taxi after just three minutes of walking.
Qatar has been experimenting with innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of high temperatures, including a bright blue road surface designed to cool the tarmac and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, Doha's Khalifa Stadium has been maintained at a pleasant 23-25 degrees Celsius, providing a welcome respite from the outside heat.
