Aus2018.com

England’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took time away from their busy CHOGM schedules to meet with FIFA Vice President Jack Warner in Trinidad today, to discuss the 2018 World Cup bid.

Both countries will be presenting bids to the FIFA Executive Committee to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups.

A decision on the host country for the tournaments will be taken in December 2010.

Earlier this morning Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, less than an hour after arriving in Trinidad,  held a meeting with  FIFA Vice President Jack Warner at the residence of the Australian Ambassador in Cascade.

During discussions Warner inquired from Prime Minister Rudd about the development of the football in Australia.

 Prime Minister Rudd responded “from Strength to strength”, he went on to add that FIFA must look at ways to expand the world globally and it is in this regard Australia may hold the key.

“We must look at innovative ways to grow the game and what better way to do it that in a region which is exploding”

Warner told the PM that the World Cup bid isn’t only about figures, but it is about  a host nation’s social responsibility, its commitment to the world.

To that comment the charismatic leader responded “Australia is looking to expand its diplomatic footprint in the globe and we are using sport as a mechanism to do this.”

And it seems as though the Australian movement is serious about its commitment, Prime Minister Rudd explained that the country intends to expand the number of scholarships, including football scholarships being offered by the government globally

Prime Minster Rudd went on to expand on a number of initiatives his government has implemented in his country using sport as a mechanism to trigger social transformation.

Warner commended the Australian Prime Minister on his commitment to the 2018 bid.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I am impressed by your commitment and involvement in this process.’

Australia has successfully hosted a number of international sporting events including the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.  Its track record prompted Warner to say “Your country has demonstrated your ability to host World Class events in the past.”

PM Rudd thanked Warner for his compliment saying “ We have a strong bid and it will only get stronger”

Last week Warner told international media that Australia had a “good chance” of wining the bid.

A FIFA World Cup in Australia would present an “immense commercial opportunity” for FIFA and its commercial partners according to Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC. 

Speaking at the prestigious International Football Arena conference in Kuala Lumpur, Lowy said that world football must make the most of the opportunity offered by the burgeoning growth of Asia.

“Not only is Asia the centre of the future of the world’s economy, but it is also the centre of the future of world football.”

“A FIFA World Cup in the Asian region would secure the future of football in the region as well as give FIFA and its commercial partners the opportunity to generate maximum revenues.”

He said that, with Australia’s strong track record in hosting major events, as well as the quality of its infrastructure and facilities made Australian an obvious choice for a FIFA World Cup.   

Lowy, FFA CEO Ben Buckley, and other members of the Bid team for the 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup will be in Cape Town next week to present Australia’s bid to a global football and media audience.

Sydney has been named as one of 7 international cities to host official FIFA public viewing events for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA Fan Fest™ will show all matches from next years tournament on giant screens in a safe and secure environment.

The seven international selected to host the events are Berlin, London, Mexico City, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Rome and Sydney. In addition to these, all 9 South African host cities will be hosting similar events. 

In addition to showing football, each site will feature an all-day entertainment program outside the actual broadcast of the matches. 

The final draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals will be held on 4 December 2009. 

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met with the President of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland today.

The pair met for over an hour along with Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman, Frank Lowy AC, as well asFFA CEO, Ben Buckley and FIFA CEO, Jerome Valcke.

Mr Lowy said the Australian delegation received a warm welcome from the FIFA President.

"President Blatter is already well aware off Australia's strong track record in hosting major events"

"It was a very good opportunity for Mr Blatter to hear personally from the Prime Minister of the Governments support for this bid"

Australia's position as part of the Asian Football Confederation and Asia's importance for the future growth of the game were also discussed.

FFA will be required to make a final bid presentation to FIFA in December 2010.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy has stated that the people of Australia are the “secret weapon” of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup ™ at the official launch held in the Great Hall at Parliament House in Canberra today.

“We believe this bid is realistic and it’s achievable,” he told an audience of politicians, media, past, present and aspiring Socceroos and FFA partners.

Mr Lowy said that hosting the FIFA World Cup™ would be good for football, but also good for Australia.

“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™.

Mr Lowy said 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.”

But Mr Lowy said that 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 Qantas 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.”

“Our aim is to show FIFA and the football world that we are passionate about football and welcoming the world.”

FFA also unveiled a promotional film which showcases Australia as a destination, as well as its football and event hosting credentials, encouraging the world to ‘Come Play!’.

The film showcases the Qantas 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.

“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 behind 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.”

Aus2018 and AsianFC.com fully support Australia’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022 and urge all readers to do likewise. Join the official website www.australia2018-2022.com.au and urge your friends, family and colleagues to do the same.