Ahhh shit!!!
What can you say about Fifa's decision to award the World Cup hosting rights to Russia and Qatar in 2018 and 2022 respectively.
Russia is a country renowned for being cold, godless, corrupt, and full of alcoholics with a dodgy history of human rights; while Qatar is known as being hot, damn hot, full of god botherers, alcoholic dodgers and also with a dubious history of human rights.
Taking a critical look at Australia's bid the first finger point and fuck you goes to the Cypriot Andrew Demetriou for making the legacy for the World Cup about AFL. Stadiums in Perth, West of Sydney, Geelong, Gold Coast, and the MCG all would helped the AFL. Well done to Andrew Demetriou and his cronies for wedging themselves into the bid. And for getting footage of AFL in the bid video, I would assume that he'd be pissed off that GWS and Gold Coast side were not incuded in the video.
The second fuck you finger goes to the Australian Mainstream media's fixation on the 45 million bucks Australia was spending on the bid. "It's a waste of tax payers money," they cried.
My initial response to the final World Cup bid presentation was one of indifference, we have always sold ourselves to the world as an irreverent bunch with a laid back attitude and a kooky sense of humor but the message of the video should have been how much we love football, how much we love our football people, not how much we love ourselves, sure we are great at saying we are the greatest country in the world but we are more than thieves and cartoon kangaroo's.
Frank Lowy has a great story but I thought including it in the bid video was a waste. What about Johhny Warren's story or Tim Cahill's story or Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka experience? Instead Elle and Frank were getting down with some rather public displays of foreplay, and where the bloody hell was Julia Gillard for the final presentation?
So as they say in the journo game "it will be interesting to see what will happen now". It could be blessing in disguise that we didn't get the World Cup. We can prove that we can sell Australia to the world but perhaps we should concentrate on selling Australian football to the world next time.
Showing posts with label World Cup 2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World Cup 2018. Show all posts
Friday, December 3, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Dumbest Football Story Ever!
A football story has read some really dumb football stories over the years. Particularly from the Daily Terror and today they have shown they are in form again. This time it was Jessica Halloran who has joined the list of clueless reporters who are bored of writing about their usual sports so try and sensationalize a negative story about football. Strange that it would come from a hack who in 2008 was nominated for a Walkely award while writing for the Sydney Morning Herald..
So I can say with the utmost confidence that this here is: the dumbest football story ever!
"Vote setback rocks our 2022 world bid
IF you had $45.6 million to gamble, what would you put that money on?
The pink dog at Wentworth Park? The Roosters to win the premiership? Australia to host the 2022 World Cup?"
So what's this big setback that has "rocked" Australia's World Cup bid?
"Last week, Australia's $45.6 million World Cup gamble lost the important vote of Asian Football Confederation president Mohammed Bin Hammam.
Bin Hammam, a Qatari and likely candidate for the FIFA presidency next year, last week "frankly" said he will award his vote to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.
"I have one vote among 24 votes and, frankly speaking, I will vote for Qatar," Hammam said last Wednesday."
I'll leave it up to Squizz of Narara who left a comment on the website . I think it says it all.
Well knock me down with a feather!! Bin Hammam, a Qatari and likely candidate for the FIFA presidency next year, last week "frankly" said he will award his vote to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. In other news startling news Tony Abbott has said he will vote Liberal in the upcoming federal election
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Socceroos are sweet at sixteen
The Socceroos are ranked sixteenth in the world. It’s hard to believe they are sitting one place above football pretty boys, Portugal, a team who are struggling to make South Africa next year, even with the best player in the world in their side.
One week derided by its own media and betrayed by infighting, the next achieving it’s highest ever FIFA ranking. The Football gods curse one moment and bless the next.
The Socceroos you can almost say are sitting at the big kiddies table of world football.
If you look closely, nearby are the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Greece and USA; all teams the Socceroos should not fear. A bit further up the table, sit Croatia, Argentina and Netherlands teams the Socceroos have drawn, been competitive with or beaten.
A Football Odyssey 2010
It seems like this phrase “Next year will be Australian football biggest” has being said every year since 2005.
Obviously the two big dates are the World Cup in June and the decision by FIFA in December on who will host the World Cup in 2018/22.
It’s quite a difference to the phrase “This is Australian football’s last chance” which used to be said every four years before the Socceroos would play a one off home and away match to qualify for a world cup.
As an Australian football fan I have had nor the time or the inclination to follow the FIFA rankings.
Two reasons why:
The first that they don’t seem to be a true reflection of the ability of the team: like Eddie Vedder said at the MTV awards; how can you rate art?
The other reason is Australia never rated lower than 30 and usually hovered around the 50’s so if we were not number one who cares right?
But now that the Socceroos are ranked 16th I’m starting to take notice. The good news for Australia if it can maintain that ranking through to the World Cup is that it will enjoy a high seeding, thus avoiding the likes of Brazil, Spain or Italy in its group.
This could prove to be a positioned chalice, a heavy crown, a cursed blessing whatever grand metaphor you can think of to describe the added pressure of having success.
It is an unexpected bonus for Pim Verbeek the Socceroos, players and staff for how well they have performed during this World Cup qualifying campaign.
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing or pretty to watch, to use a Damian Lovelockism at times it was pure granite.
After all these years of being in the international football wilderness and only playing two real games every four years. The football fan that hitched a ride on the Socceroos bandwagon after the Uruguay game or joined during the World Cup will have realised like other football fans that sometimes international football or even football in general can be mostly granite.
But just to be at the World Cup is worth it.
Top 20 Was A Good Target
Speaking to a media scrum a couple of days before the Uzbekistan game on April the 1st.Lucas Neil said he wanted to break in the top 20 one day:
“Top 20 is a good target, let’s qualify for the world cup and who knows, we got to mix it with the last 16 at the last World Cup, and we will take anyone on any country” he said
“We have already proved that we can go to Holland and win in Holland, we gave Brazil a scare in the last World Cup. It’s not a fluke that every now and again we have beaten teams like France in the past, Argentina in the past, and because of our spirit and the way we have been brought up with football, we have always been the underdog.
“We have always been the team that is trying to achieve, we are going to get results, now it’s about consistency; we can take anyone on and be in the top twenty in the world.” He added.
A great achievement considering it’s the first time it has been done through Asia.
The ranking will also add to Australia’s growing reputation in world football and that should add value to the World Cup bid for 2018/22.
So when you consider the Socceroos results and performance at the World Cup in Germany, you can say with some confidence that Australia is a true football country.
Australia now has World Cup history and in Australia’s case they will be humming the words to the Split Endz song “history never repeats” hoping to progress to the quarter finals in South Africa next year, a goal that should not be out of the question.
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/07/04/the-socceroos-are-sweet-at-sixteen/#more-20650
Saturday, June 27, 2009
How Australia will win its bid for the World Cup
During a speech at the Press Club gallery, FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said that Australia had embarked on a Herculean task in trying to win the right to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.
Victory, he said, would fulfill the countries’ wildest dreams.
There is another eighteen months for the FFA and the rest of Australia to inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
Frank Lowy says that the philosophy that underpinned the revival of football at a local level is the same that motivates the World Cup bid.
The economic impact of hosting a World Cup will be huge.
The FFA commissioned Price Waterhouse Coopers to undertake an economic impact analysis of hosting the World Cup and the Confederations Cup.
A joint PWC/Monash University study estimated the impact as a $5.3 billion increase in GDP and a cumulative employment effect of 74,000 jobs.
The decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be made in December this year.
This is the first time that a decision for two World Cups will be made at the same time.
The bidders Australia will have face are favourites England; a strong Iberian bid by Spain and Portugal; a resource rich Russian bid; other Asian bidders Qatar, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea; and North America’s Mexico and the United States.
To win it, the Australian bid require 13 votes. There are 24 members in the FIFA executive who will decide.
The nine bidding associations go into a ballot. Each member of the 24 member executive including FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, vote for one country.
What happens then is the country that has the lowest number of votes will be eliminated. The same process of elimination begins again until finally there is one country remaining.
There are four members from Africa, four members from Asia, three from Central and North America, eight from Europe, and three from South America and one from Oceania.
So how will Australia get those 13 votes needed during the first round of voting?
You would suspect that the members from the bidding countries on the FIFA executive that vote Japan, United States, Belgium, England, Russia and Spain will vote for themselves.
Oceania has stated on the World Game TV programme that they will vote for Australia. So count one to the Aussies there.
So how will the rest of Australia inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee?
The bid and TV ad slogan Come Play was one way of doing it. As well as the website where ordinary fans can sign up and interact with Socceroos.
A Facebook site has also gone up with up-to-date information about the bid.
Why choose Asia?
First, the FFA has to convince the world to choose Asia ahead of Europe or North America. The World Cup has only been in Asia once during its 80 year history.
During the speech, Frank Lowy spoke about the might of Asia’s political and economic power, and how it was rising around the world.
The wealth of Asia continues to grow, he said in his speech. “It is where the customers are for goods and services, and for football.”
He added that the biggest television audience for the World Cup, by far, lies in Asia, not Europe or America.
According to IATA, in 2014 there will be more people flying in Asia than in Europe or America.
Lowy outlined why Australia is a better choice that Europe, saying it was: “Like putting a cherry on top of a gigantic chocolate cake.” He added “Europe is a mature market – it is already overflowing with the highest quality football on a weekly basis.”
Of the United States, he said: “Even under the rosiest scenarios, (it) will remain problematic for football given the unique characteristics of that market and the entrenched competition from other sports.”
So the FFA has convinced the Wworld to go with Asia, why then choose Australia?
Frank Lowy outlined six points:
1) The first was Australia’s record of Safety, Organisation, Friendliness at major events
2) The Australian bid has support from all levels of government to mount a genuine national bid. Frank Lowy has said: “From the outset the Prime Minister has provided unequivocal support, and his personal involvement, including a direct appeal to delegates at last year’s FIFA Congress in Sydney, has made a huge impact.”
3) Australia has the infrastructure. FIFA technical requirements for the 2018 and 2022 bids state that the bids should have:
* A minimum of 12 stadia, at least two of which must hold 80,000 fans
• 10 stadia which must hold a minimum of 45,000 fans
• Training facilities for 32 teams; and,
• Five-star accommodation for a minimum of four teams, the FIFA organisation and match officials in every host city.
4) The World Cup in South Africa will be in winter. So the far from being a problem, the FFA believes that the weather, distance and time zones and the Australian climate delivers a situation for perfect football weather in June and July.
Speaking about the weather and time zones, Mr Lowy said: “Too much was made of Australia’s so-called geographic isolation and time zone differences” He went on to say that the the 1 billion viewers in China, and the billions in India, Japan, Korea, and South East Asia, would appreciate being close to Australia’s time zone.”
5) Australia has generated enormous goodwill in world football over the past few years, especially during the last World Cup in Germany. The Socceroos excited everyone. And it’s worth noting that in terms of ticket sales to the 2006 World Cup, Australians ranked fifth in the world and Australia’s group games for the World Cup in South Africa have already sold out.6) Lowy also spoke about how the FFA was being recognised in FIFA and the AFC.
The chairman of the FFA said: “It was no coincidence that senior Members of the FFA had been recognised and are now serving on key Committees of regional and world football.”
So the other bidders have famous heads of state, famous sports stars and celebrities. Australia secret weapon is you and me.
The FFA say they will have to inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee. There is eighteen months before the decision.
Do you think we can do it?
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/06/27/how-australia-will-win-the-world-cup/
Victory, he said, would fulfill the countries’ wildest dreams.
There is another eighteen months for the FFA and the rest of Australia to inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
Frank Lowy says that the philosophy that underpinned the revival of football at a local level is the same that motivates the World Cup bid.
The economic impact of hosting a World Cup will be huge.
The FFA commissioned Price Waterhouse Coopers to undertake an economic impact analysis of hosting the World Cup and the Confederations Cup.
A joint PWC/Monash University study estimated the impact as a $5.3 billion increase in GDP and a cumulative employment effect of 74,000 jobs.
The decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be made in December this year.
This is the first time that a decision for two World Cups will be made at the same time.
The bidders Australia will have face are favourites England; a strong Iberian bid by Spain and Portugal; a resource rich Russian bid; other Asian bidders Qatar, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea; and North America’s Mexico and the United States.
To win it, the Australian bid require 13 votes. There are 24 members in the FIFA executive who will decide.
The nine bidding associations go into a ballot. Each member of the 24 member executive including FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, vote for one country.
What happens then is the country that has the lowest number of votes will be eliminated. The same process of elimination begins again until finally there is one country remaining.
There are four members from Africa, four members from Asia, three from Central and North America, eight from Europe, and three from South America and one from Oceania.
So how will Australia get those 13 votes needed during the first round of voting?
You would suspect that the members from the bidding countries on the FIFA executive that vote Japan, United States, Belgium, England, Russia and Spain will vote for themselves.
Oceania has stated on the World Game TV programme that they will vote for Australia. So count one to the Aussies there.
So how will the rest of Australia inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee?
The bid and TV ad slogan Come Play was one way of doing it. As well as the website where ordinary fans can sign up and interact with Socceroos.
A Facebook site has also gone up with up-to-date information about the bid.
Why choose Asia?
First, the FFA has to convince the world to choose Asia ahead of Europe or North America. The World Cup has only been in Asia once during its 80 year history.
During the speech, Frank Lowy spoke about the might of Asia’s political and economic power, and how it was rising around the world.
The wealth of Asia continues to grow, he said in his speech. “It is where the customers are for goods and services, and for football.”
He added that the biggest television audience for the World Cup, by far, lies in Asia, not Europe or America.
According to IATA, in 2014 there will be more people flying in Asia than in Europe or America.
Lowy outlined why Australia is a better choice that Europe, saying it was: “Like putting a cherry on top of a gigantic chocolate cake.” He added “Europe is a mature market – it is already overflowing with the highest quality football on a weekly basis.”
Of the United States, he said: “Even under the rosiest scenarios, (it) will remain problematic for football given the unique characteristics of that market and the entrenched competition from other sports.”
So the FFA has convinced the Wworld to go with Asia, why then choose Australia?
Frank Lowy outlined six points:
1) The first was Australia’s record of Safety, Organisation, Friendliness at major events
2) The Australian bid has support from all levels of government to mount a genuine national bid. Frank Lowy has said: “From the outset the Prime Minister has provided unequivocal support, and his personal involvement, including a direct appeal to delegates at last year’s FIFA Congress in Sydney, has made a huge impact.”
3) Australia has the infrastructure. FIFA technical requirements for the 2018 and 2022 bids state that the bids should have:
* A minimum of 12 stadia, at least two of which must hold 80,000 fans
• 10 stadia which must hold a minimum of 45,000 fans
• Training facilities for 32 teams; and,
• Five-star accommodation for a minimum of four teams, the FIFA organisation and match officials in every host city.
4) The World Cup in South Africa will be in winter. So the far from being a problem, the FFA believes that the weather, distance and time zones and the Australian climate delivers a situation for perfect football weather in June and July.
Speaking about the weather and time zones, Mr Lowy said: “Too much was made of Australia’s so-called geographic isolation and time zone differences” He went on to say that the the 1 billion viewers in China, and the billions in India, Japan, Korea, and South East Asia, would appreciate being close to Australia’s time zone.”
5) Australia has generated enormous goodwill in world football over the past few years, especially during the last World Cup in Germany. The Socceroos excited everyone. And it’s worth noting that in terms of ticket sales to the 2006 World Cup, Australians ranked fifth in the world and Australia’s group games for the World Cup in South Africa have already sold out.6) Lowy also spoke about how the FFA was being recognised in FIFA and the AFC.
The chairman of the FFA said: “It was no coincidence that senior Members of the FFA had been recognised and are now serving on key Committees of regional and world football.”
So the other bidders have famous heads of state, famous sports stars and celebrities. Australia secret weapon is you and me.
The FFA say they will have to inform, impress, influence and inspire the members of the FIFA Executive Committee. There is eighteen months before the decision.
Do you think we can do it?
http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/06/27/how-australia-will-win-the-world-cup/
Sunday, June 14, 2009
World Cup 2018/2022: It's About You And Me, Australia!
Everyday Australians are the secret weapon in the fight for the right to host football's showpiece event.
In a recent article I penned for Goal.com, I urged the Football Federation Australia FFA to find a secret weapon so Australia could fight the bids of England, USA and Russia. Those bids had some big hired guns.
The US has Barack Obama, England has David Beckham’s golden balls and Russia were going to get ex-Aussie coach Gus Hiddink to help spruce up their bid.
My suggestion of putting three of Australia’s most famous and beautiful actresses in a Socceroos shirt and having AC/DC play 'It's A Long Way To The Top' at the launch fell on deaf ears. Perhaps I should keep such fantasies to myself...
Instead, the FFA Australia has its own secret weapon for its World Cup bid.
And that is you and me, Australia; we, the people, are the secret weapon.
The World Cup Bid launch included 1974 FIFA World Cup Socceroo Harry Williams, Socceroos captain Lucas Neill, newly crowned Australian Player of the Year Mark Schwarzer and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The chairman of the FFA, Frank Lowy, spoke about Australia’s secret weapon, it s position in Asia and Australia’s proud record of hosting major events.
Australia’s “secret weapon” is the Australian people, and Australia as a destination.
“People from all over the world want to visit our country.
“Thanks to the performance of the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us.”
Frank Lowy told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners that:
“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,”
“Hosting the World Cup would provide Australia with an unparalleled opportunity and give Australia a lasting and living legacy for generations to come.
“On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup.”
For Australia to host the World Cup in 2018, South Africa, Brazil and then Australia, it would mean that the World Cup would be away from Europe for 20 years.
The sceptics, in and out of Australia, say that FIFA would never allow that to happen. However, with Australia entering the Asian confederation in 2006 and Asia being one of football’s fastest growing regions, the FFA believes it has a great chance.
The benefits of a World Cup being in the Asian confederation for only the second time in its history will be clear to FIFA, as their biggest objective is to grow the game.
The World Cup being played in Australia with its close proximity to Asia in distance and time zones will help go some way in achieving FIFA’s responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration.
Mr Lowy spoke about the benefits of Australia being in Asia, saying that the cumulative global television audience in 2006 was 26.2 billion, with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.
“Asia is on the rise economically, in terms of goods and services and in football,” he said. “Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation and is in the Asian time zone.”
One of the benefits of hosting a World Cup in Australia is the great record the country has in hosting memorable sporting events. Lowy also spoke about Australia’s record at the launch.
“Bidding for, and hosting, the FIFA World Cup is a natural corollary of our proud history in staging major events as a strategy to grow, develop and promote Australia as a nation.
“Events such as the 1956 and 2000 Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Indy 500, the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, the Australian Open, the FIFA World Youth Cup and World Youth Day have all added to Australia's reputation and image as a nation, and as a serious and credible contender in major event hosting and management.”
Also at today’s launch, the FFA unveiled a website for Australia’s bid at www.australia2018-2022.com.au, which is a football-themed social networking site. “We invite people from all over Australia and the world to join the bid by signing onto our website,” Lowy said.
The FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as highlighting its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’ The film features the Socceroos as well, as a ball travelling around Australia visiting every state and territory showcasing cities, stadia, the outback, wineries and beaches with everyday Australians in a playful mood.
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an appearance in the promotional film.
“We are delighted that the Prime Minister accepted our invitation to be in the promotional film, as it emphasises to the international community that our bid is backed by the Government. “This bid is for football, but it is also for Australia,” Lowy added. “We have many milestones between today and when the decision is made and we hope that all Australians can join this bid 100 per cent.”
FFA will be required to make a final presentation to FIFA, football’s world governing body, in December 2010, prior to a decision being made. “I have the personal commitment of our political leaders to this bid,” said Mr Lowy. “We have the goodwill and support of other sporting codes around the country. “And we now invite all Australians to enlist in what we hope will be an exciting and successful campaign to bring the greatest show on earth to the world’s greatest playground.” The campaign to bring the World Cup to Australia begins now.
The perception of Australia as a safe welcoming country that loves sports is one of the bids biggest selling points, as well as being part of fastest growing region in football, Asia.
The FFA will have a fight on its hands to sway the 23-man FIFA executive committee in choosing Australia over the other bidders.
Sydney got the Olympics in 2000 against all the odds, why not believe that the World Cup could come in Australia in 2018?
The FFA believes it’s about you and me - do you?
In a recent article I penned for Goal.com, I urged the Football Federation Australia FFA to find a secret weapon so Australia could fight the bids of England, USA and Russia. Those bids had some big hired guns.
The US has Barack Obama, England has David Beckham’s golden balls and Russia were going to get ex-Aussie coach Gus Hiddink to help spruce up their bid.
My suggestion of putting three of Australia’s most famous and beautiful actresses in a Socceroos shirt and having AC/DC play 'It's A Long Way To The Top' at the launch fell on deaf ears. Perhaps I should keep such fantasies to myself...
Instead, the FFA Australia has its own secret weapon for its World Cup bid.
And that is you and me, Australia; we, the people, are the secret weapon.
The World Cup Bid launch included 1974 FIFA World Cup Socceroo Harry Williams, Socceroos captain Lucas Neill, newly crowned Australian Player of the Year Mark Schwarzer and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The chairman of the FFA, Frank Lowy, spoke about Australia’s secret weapon, it s position in Asia and Australia’s proud record of hosting major events.
Australia’s “secret weapon” is the Australian people, and Australia as a destination.
“People from all over the world want to visit our country.
“Thanks to the performance of the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us.”
Frank Lowy told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners that:
“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,”
“Hosting the World Cup would provide Australia with an unparalleled opportunity and give Australia a lasting and living legacy for generations to come.
“On the world stage, there is no event with the same level of global appeal or audience reach as the FIFA World Cup.”
For Australia to host the World Cup in 2018, South Africa, Brazil and then Australia, it would mean that the World Cup would be away from Europe for 20 years.
The sceptics, in and out of Australia, say that FIFA would never allow that to happen. However, with Australia entering the Asian confederation in 2006 and Asia being one of football’s fastest growing regions, the FFA believes it has a great chance.
The benefits of a World Cup being in the Asian confederation for only the second time in its history will be clear to FIFA, as their biggest objective is to grow the game.
The World Cup being played in Australia with its close proximity to Asia in distance and time zones will help go some way in achieving FIFA’s responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration.
Mr Lowy spoke about the benefits of Australia being in Asia, saying that the cumulative global television audience in 2006 was 26.2 billion, with the single largest audience group coming from the Asian Football Confederation, of which Australia is a member.
“Asia is on the rise economically, in terms of goods and services and in football,” he said. “Australia is part of the Asian Football Confederation and is in the Asian time zone.”
One of the benefits of hosting a World Cup in Australia is the great record the country has in hosting memorable sporting events. Lowy also spoke about Australia’s record at the launch.
“Bidding for, and hosting, the FIFA World Cup is a natural corollary of our proud history in staging major events as a strategy to grow, develop and promote Australia as a nation.
“Events such as the 1956 and 2000 Olympic Games, four Commonwealth Games, the Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Indy 500, the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup, the Australian Open, the FIFA World Youth Cup and World Youth Day have all added to Australia's reputation and image as a nation, and as a serious and credible contender in major event hosting and management.”
Also at today’s launch, the FFA unveiled a website for Australia’s bid at www.australia2018-2022.com.au, which is a football-themed social networking site. “We invite people from all over Australia and the world to join the bid by signing onto our website,” Lowy said.
The FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as highlighting its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’ The film features the Socceroos as well, as a ball travelling around Australia visiting every state and territory showcasing cities, stadia, the outback, wineries and beaches with everyday Australians in a playful mood.
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an appearance in the promotional film.
“We are delighted that the Prime Minister accepted our invitation to be in the promotional film, as it emphasises to the international community that our bid is backed by the Government. “This bid is for football, but it is also for Australia,” Lowy added. “We have many milestones between today and when the decision is made and we hope that all Australians can join this bid 100 per cent.”
FFA will be required to make a final presentation to FIFA, football’s world governing body, in December 2010, prior to a decision being made. “I have the personal commitment of our political leaders to this bid,” said Mr Lowy. “We have the goodwill and support of other sporting codes around the country. “And we now invite all Australians to enlist in what we hope will be an exciting and successful campaign to bring the greatest show on earth to the world’s greatest playground.” The campaign to bring the World Cup to Australia begins now.
The perception of Australia as a safe welcoming country that loves sports is one of the bids biggest selling points, as well as being part of fastest growing region in football, Asia.
The FFA will have a fight on its hands to sway the 23-man FIFA executive committee in choosing Australia over the other bidders.
Sydney got the Olympics in 2000 against all the odds, why not believe that the World Cup could come in Australia in 2018?
The FFA believes it’s about you and me - do you?
Friday, May 29, 2009
World Cup 2018: Australia is a Football Country
Is it such a pipe dream to suggest that Australia could host the 2018/22 World Cup? The sceptics will say that Australia is not a football country.
If Australia is not a football country then what is this football writer doing typing away madly at this computer?
FIFA introduced a policy of continental rotation that enabled the bids of South Africa and then Brazil to succeed; before then the World Cup had never left Europe for consecutive tournaments.
South American countries were barred from joining either race in 2018/22 as Brazil will host the 2014 tournament and because South Africa is hosting in 2010, African nations were only eligible to bid for the 2022 World Cup but none came forward.
The bookmakers have the odds at England 6/4, Russia 7/2, Spain and Portugal 5, Australia 9/2, Holland and Belgium 25, Mexico 20 USA 20 Japan 20 Indonesia 33.
There has been talk in European media that with Europe's television markets being responsible for large chunks of revenue for FIFA (FIFA relies on the World Cup for 90 per cent of its income) it is said broadcasters in Europe would not be happy if the 2018 World Cup went to Asia or Australia where matches would be played outside of their prime time hours
Australia is part of the Asian confederation the world fastest growing football region and with expectations of FIFA to earn 2.46 billion Euros (C$4.05 billion) in television and marketing revenue from the 2010 tournament in South Africa a similar return from Brazil in 2014 and an Asian World cup in Australia in 2018 should not be out of the question; the world watches the World Cup no matter what time it is on.
FIFA has a responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration (it’s says so on FIFA’s website) and why not use Australia with its multicultural society as way of spreading FFA’s message to the world.
FIFA regulations stipulate that candidates must provide approximately 12 stadiums capable holding at least 40,000 fans for group matches, and one stadium of at least 80,000 capacity to stage the opening match and final.
So what about Australia’s stadiums? Let’s look at where the potential 12 and final stadiums could be:
NSW (5)
Sydney (2)
Stadium Australia (83 500 capacity) where the Sydney 2000 Olympics where held; could be where the final is played and Sydney Football Stadium (45,500 capacity) could be used for group games.
Newcastle Stadium (1) (40.000) is getting an upgrade to the FIFA regulations so it is favoured as one of the stadiums the FFA will include in its bids plan.
Central Coast Stadium (1) (20,119) would have to be upgraded but this option seems less likely.
Canberra (1)
The Canberra times reported just yesterday:
The ACT Government believes a possible $350million redevelopment of Canberra's sporting landscape will lure more world-class events to the capital. The grand proposal is an overhaul of the Bruce precinct, involving a redevelopment of Canberra Stadium and the construction of a new 40,000-seat stadium on the site of the existing eastern car park. The full project is only likely to go ahead if Australia is successful in its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup, which would guarantee Commonwealth and private funding.
Melbourne (3)
The MCG is one of those troublesome oval grounds that FIFA might deem not suitable; however the stadium where the final in Germany 2006 was played had a running track around it so is the oval shape while not desired might be ok. There is Docklands Stadium (53,555), which leaves the new Rectangular Stadium (31,001 capacity) which would have to be upgraded to 40,000 to meet FIFA’s guidelines.
QLD (3)
The Brisbane Stadium (54,000) is considered Australia’s best football stadium; while the Robina Stadium (27,400) on the Gold Coast and stadium in North Queensland (27,000) up in Townsville would have to be upgraded.
Adelaide (2)
Adelaide Oval (36000) FFA CEO Ben Buckley has ruled out using the famous cricket ground and the government have said they will not build a new one so Adelaide could miss out altogether which would be a shame there is also the option of Football Park (52,000) which is an Oval ground.
Perth (2)
Perth Oval (18,156) is too small where Perth Glory plays and Subiaco (42,922) is an AFL ground. There was talk about the Perth State government building a new stadium close to the city.
Tasmania (1)
Bellerive Oval (16,000) is another oval shaped pitch with a small capacity. Unless a new stadium is built, Tasmania is unlikely to be part of the bid.
The other bidding nations for 2018/22 and their odds
England, 6/4
The favourites, the so called “home of football” has the stadiums and infrastructure, however a problem with fan disturbances and an embarrassing error in accidently inviting a member of the BNP, a right wing, whites only, political party to the bid launch; as well as a perception as being arrogant by some FIFA members could provide problems for England.
Russia, 7/2
Has the wealth from natural resources to build infrastructure like stadiums and hotels however its 11 time zones will cause logistical headaches and also a perception of political instability. Russian Football Union spokesman Andrei Malasolov has been quoted as saying Russia had no preference on hosting in 2018 or 2022 and would leave it to FIFA to decide.
Spain & Portugal, 5
Spain is expected to host the greater share of matches. The Iberian bid will expect strong support from the three South American representatives on FIFA's 24-man executive committee; a conflict within Uefa could split the confederation's eight votes.
Holland & Belgium, 25
Did host the Euro 2000 not one of the main favourites, could struggle for support in the Fifa executive committee.
Japan 20
Where the joint host in 2002 with South Korea where the tournament was defined by good organisation and infrastructure. FIFA stadium requirements mean bid hinges on Tokyo 2016 Olympics bid.
Mexico 20
Did host the 1986 and 1970 World Cups where Maradona and Brazil stole the show. The 2014 World Cup will be hosted in Brazil so perhaps that is too close for two countries to host it from the Americas.
USA 20
Could be the wildcard with Barak Obama and Hollywood to call on; also has top-class infrastructure, stadiums and transport links. South America hosting the 2014 tournament could be an issue.
Indonesia 33
One of the outsiders; a large population of 235m is positive, football is growing in south-east Asia, however the nation is beset with political and economic instability.
2022, as above and...
South Korea
Co-hosted the 2002 World Cup so has the experience.
Qatar
The Asian Football Confederation's Qatari chief, Mohammed bin Hammam, is a close ally of FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and has just retained his seat on the FIFA Executive Committee after defeating Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in a vote held at the 23rd AFC Congress on Friday 8 May in Kuala Lumpur.
Australia does have the capacity to host a World Cup in 2018 /22; the competition from the other bids is strong; however Australia can only compete with its self and its own potential and with its track record in hosting Olympic Games and other major international competitions, it is in with a very good chance even if the odds are against it.
If Australia is not a football country then what is this football writer doing typing away madly at this computer?
FIFA introduced a policy of continental rotation that enabled the bids of South Africa and then Brazil to succeed; before then the World Cup had never left Europe for consecutive tournaments.
South American countries were barred from joining either race in 2018/22 as Brazil will host the 2014 tournament and because South Africa is hosting in 2010, African nations were only eligible to bid for the 2022 World Cup but none came forward.
The bookmakers have the odds at England 6/4, Russia 7/2, Spain and Portugal 5, Australia 9/2, Holland and Belgium 25, Mexico 20 USA 20 Japan 20 Indonesia 33.
There has been talk in European media that with Europe's television markets being responsible for large chunks of revenue for FIFA (FIFA relies on the World Cup for 90 per cent of its income) it is said broadcasters in Europe would not be happy if the 2018 World Cup went to Asia or Australia where matches would be played outside of their prime time hours
Australia is part of the Asian confederation the world fastest growing football region and with expectations of FIFA to earn 2.46 billion Euros (C$4.05 billion) in television and marketing revenue from the 2010 tournament in South Africa a similar return from Brazil in 2014 and an Asian World cup in Australia in 2018 should not be out of the question; the world watches the World Cup no matter what time it is on.
FIFA has a responsibility to reach out and touch the world, using football as a symbol of hope and integration (it’s says so on FIFA’s website) and why not use Australia with its multicultural society as way of spreading FFA’s message to the world.
FIFA regulations stipulate that candidates must provide approximately 12 stadiums capable holding at least 40,000 fans for group matches, and one stadium of at least 80,000 capacity to stage the opening match and final.
So what about Australia’s stadiums? Let’s look at where the potential 12 and final stadiums could be:
NSW (5)
Sydney (2)
Stadium Australia (83 500 capacity) where the Sydney 2000 Olympics where held; could be where the final is played and Sydney Football Stadium (45,500 capacity) could be used for group games.
Newcastle Stadium (1) (40.000) is getting an upgrade to the FIFA regulations so it is favoured as one of the stadiums the FFA will include in its bids plan.
Central Coast Stadium (1) (20,119) would have to be upgraded but this option seems less likely.
Canberra (1)
The Canberra times reported just yesterday:
The ACT Government believes a possible $350million redevelopment of Canberra's sporting landscape will lure more world-class events to the capital. The grand proposal is an overhaul of the Bruce precinct, involving a redevelopment of Canberra Stadium and the construction of a new 40,000-seat stadium on the site of the existing eastern car park. The full project is only likely to go ahead if Australia is successful in its bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup, which would guarantee Commonwealth and private funding.
Melbourne (3)
The MCG is one of those troublesome oval grounds that FIFA might deem not suitable; however the stadium where the final in Germany 2006 was played had a running track around it so is the oval shape while not desired might be ok. There is Docklands Stadium (53,555), which leaves the new Rectangular Stadium (31,001 capacity) which would have to be upgraded to 40,000 to meet FIFA’s guidelines.
QLD (3)
The Brisbane Stadium (54,000) is considered Australia’s best football stadium; while the Robina Stadium (27,400) on the Gold Coast and stadium in North Queensland (27,000) up in Townsville would have to be upgraded.
Adelaide (2)
Adelaide Oval (36000) FFA CEO Ben Buckley has ruled out using the famous cricket ground and the government have said they will not build a new one so Adelaide could miss out altogether which would be a shame there is also the option of Football Park (52,000) which is an Oval ground.
Perth (2)
Perth Oval (18,156) is too small where Perth Glory plays and Subiaco (42,922) is an AFL ground. There was talk about the Perth State government building a new stadium close to the city.
Tasmania (1)
Bellerive Oval (16,000) is another oval shaped pitch with a small capacity. Unless a new stadium is built, Tasmania is unlikely to be part of the bid.
The other bidding nations for 2018/22 and their odds
England, 6/4
The favourites, the so called “home of football” has the stadiums and infrastructure, however a problem with fan disturbances and an embarrassing error in accidently inviting a member of the BNP, a right wing, whites only, political party to the bid launch; as well as a perception as being arrogant by some FIFA members could provide problems for England.
Russia, 7/2
Has the wealth from natural resources to build infrastructure like stadiums and hotels however its 11 time zones will cause logistical headaches and also a perception of political instability. Russian Football Union spokesman Andrei Malasolov has been quoted as saying Russia had no preference on hosting in 2018 or 2022 and would leave it to FIFA to decide.
Spain & Portugal, 5
Spain is expected to host the greater share of matches. The Iberian bid will expect strong support from the three South American representatives on FIFA's 24-man executive committee; a conflict within Uefa could split the confederation's eight votes.
Holland & Belgium, 25
Did host the Euro 2000 not one of the main favourites, could struggle for support in the Fifa executive committee.
Japan 20
Where the joint host in 2002 with South Korea where the tournament was defined by good organisation and infrastructure. FIFA stadium requirements mean bid hinges on Tokyo 2016 Olympics bid.
Mexico 20
Did host the 1986 and 1970 World Cups where Maradona and Brazil stole the show. The 2014 World Cup will be hosted in Brazil so perhaps that is too close for two countries to host it from the Americas.
USA 20
Could be the wildcard with Barak Obama and Hollywood to call on; also has top-class infrastructure, stadiums and transport links. South America hosting the 2014 tournament could be an issue.
Indonesia 33
One of the outsiders; a large population of 235m is positive, football is growing in south-east Asia, however the nation is beset with political and economic instability.
2022, as above and...
South Korea
Co-hosted the 2002 World Cup so has the experience.
Qatar
The Asian Football Confederation's Qatari chief, Mohammed bin Hammam, is a close ally of FIFA chief Sepp Blatter and has just retained his seat on the FIFA Executive Committee after defeating Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa in a vote held at the 23rd AFC Congress on Friday 8 May in Kuala Lumpur.
Australia does have the capacity to host a World Cup in 2018 /22; the competition from the other bids is strong; however Australia can only compete with its self and its own potential and with its track record in hosting Olympic Games and other major international competitions, it is in with a very good chance even if the odds are against it.
http://goal.com/en/news/808/australia/2009/05/29/1292336/australia-is-a-football-country
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Australia World Cup 2018: Yes We Can
As the various World Cup bidders start to put forward their cases to host the 2018 or 2022 tournament, who or what can Australia use to sell itself to FIFA’s deciding committee?
The FFA (Football Federation Australia) will officially launch Australia’s bid to host the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, 14 June, in Parliament House, Canberra.
December 2010 is the deadline for the announcement of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.
So to the favourites; the USA has Barak Obama and capitalism, England has David Beckham and is the home of football (they will tell you that, anyway) and Russia has just added Guus Hiddink to its bid campaign and has loads of Roubles.
The USA
West Ham United fan and the first black president of the United States, Barak Obama could be crucial in getting the USA’s bid across the line.
The Guardian website had Obama talking up the US bid:
"As a child, I played soccer on a dirt road in Jakarta and the game brought the children of my neighbourhood together," he wrote. "As a father, I saw that same spirit of unity alive on the fields and sidelines of my own daughters' soccer games in Chicago.
"This bid is about much more than a game. It is about the US inviting the world to gather all across our great country in celebration of our common hopes and dreams."
Stack Kevin Rudd next to the charismatic president and you can see that Australia has work to do.
It’s time for Australia to use its own big guns.
The Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) could be used to promote the bid, or maybe one of many of the beautiful world-famous actors Australia has - such as Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Abbie Cornish - could don a Socceroos shirt.
Kylie Minogue could sing 'I Should Be So Lucky' and AC/DC could do 'It's A Long Way To The Top'.
The Russians
Reuters reported that former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink could be involved in their bid.
FA general secretary Alexei Sorokin said on Tuesday, "We would like Guus to become an honorary ambassador of our World Cup campaign. We feel that his worldwide appeal would greatly enhance our chances to compete with other nations, such as England and Spain."
The 62-year-old Dutchman who was Australia’s miracle worker in 2006, getting the Socceroos to the World Cup for the first time in 32 years, could be their nemesis in 2018.
Sorokin said the Russian FA would present their plan to Hiddink when he arrives in Moscow to prepare the squad for next month's World Cup qualifier against Finland.
Russian football's governing body says the country is ready to spend some $10 billion on the World Cup.
England
England is the favourite, with one bookmaker giving odds of 6/4; however, during their launch, which featured David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, The Guardian reported:
A member from the controversial political group the British National Party (BNP), which is a far-right and whites-only political organisation in the United Kingdom, was accidentally invited to the launch of the World Cup bid campaign on Monday, and it has proved hugely damaging to internal relations in the game.
Herman Ouseley, chairman of football's anti-racist movement, Kick It Out, told the newspaper, "England 2018 has to be careful it doesn't alienate people, because if individuals feel offended by its associations with undesirables they could make life difficult for the bid by making their views known to important people whose decision it will be. I know people who are up for that.
"But people really do want the bid to succeed on the right basis. We want to see how it will be more inclusive, how there will be more BME [black and minority ethnic] representation, more women and a broader base contributing to the bid."
Jack Warner, the FIFA vice-president and key power-broker, said that inviting a BNP councillor to England's 2018 World Cup launch at Wembley while having only white and male speakers addressing the audience was an "error" that needed correcting quickly.
Warner, who has been critical of England in recent times, is head of CONCACAF and controls three of the 24 votes cast by the FIFA executive committee that will decide who hosts the 2018 tournament, said, "It's unfortunate that they did not consider minorities and had the BNP there – they made an error."
Warner also warned England 2018 against any complacency: "Don't rely on anything and believe they have an automatic right to be voted [for].
"But they have to look at the 24 members who vote, and they have to make sure fully, and I mean fully, that they [understand] the whole history of the English football, what it means to England and why England should be considered the premier candidate.
"They have to impress that this is England's time. This is an evolving situation that is changing daily and monthly and they have to keep abreast of these things."
Warner has not yet decided on who he will vote for when the committee decides in December 2010: "It's much too early for me to make my mind up on that – in fact, England has not really made a case to me as yet. I may have my sympathies, yes, but I haven't made my mind up."
The English bid is looking not to be perceived as arrogant and have ditched the 'football's coming home' tagline; the organisers banned the slogan, describing it as being "like a red rag to a bull" to rest of the world.
"It probably wasn't the brightest slogan ever invented," Lord Triesman, the chairman of the FA, said at the English bid event. "There was a bit of a suggestion that this was the only real home of football, and it was somehow in the natural order of things that it would come to us."
The launch also featured the presence of four members of the of 1966 World Cup winning squad – Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Bobby Charlton, Martin Peters and George Cohen.
The Prime Minister was also there, and he said, "I'll do everything I can to ensure that Lord Triesman and his team record a famous victory. I believe it will inspire a new generation of football players and a new generation of football fans."
The Australian bid team will need to seduce the FIFA executive committee and Kevin Rudd next to Ben Buckley and Frank Lowy at the launch won’t be enough. The country must sell its best assets in some style if it is to compete with global names like Obama, Beckham and Hiddink.
Con Stamocostas Goal.com
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