By Muaz Shabandri www.khaleejtimes.com
Counting down to the final moments of voting in Paris, nervous expressions and anxious smiles dotted the faces of a few people who had gathered at the Dubai Mall fountain area in expectation of an official announcement.
Overlooking the iconic Burj Khalifa, a large screen showcased a live feed of Dubai TV.
As the voting progressed and member countries cast their choice of host city in a secret ballot, a jittery crowd waited near the screen along with a few journalists and photographers who were waiting for the big moment. A loud cheer and huge applause went up with the confirmation of Dubai’s lead after the first round of voting with 77 votes.
The crowd breathed a sigh of relief as Sao Paulo became the first city to be eliminated from the bid following the first round of voting. The second round of voting started at 7:03pm and member countries were back to voting.
Coffee shops and restaurants near the mall’s fountain were unusually busy with places filling up soon after sunset. More info
