Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup

[midfielder]

IAN THORPE ... the latest celb to back the bid

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/going-for-gold-thorpe-eager-to-make-a-splash-for-world-cup-20100427-tq4i.html

Going for gold: Thorpe eager to make a splash for World Cup
SEBASTIAN HASSETT

April 28, 2010

IAN THORPE, the five-time Olympic gold medallist and closet Tottenham fan, will add another touch of star power to Australia's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup after being appointed as an official ambassador by Football Federation Australia.

The champion swimmer joins Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in a select group of iconic Australians who have been asked by the FFA to give celebrity clout to the bid, with more big names set to be announced in the coming months.

After a stunning start to the campaign, Australia's bid needs an urgent boost in momentum to see off the threat of United States and Qatar to win the hosting rights for 2022, with England almost assured of hosting the event in 2018.

However, while some ambassadors offer little more than a smile, Thorpe is keen to start throwing his weight around to drum up support for Australia's bid. He'll start by bailing up UEFA president Michel Platini at the SportAccord Convention in Dubai later this week.

''I just want to reinforce [to Platini] that the people of Australia are 100 per cent behind the bid, and the reaction would be similar to when we were awarded the Olympics,'' he said. ''Also, [that] Australians have continually proven their ability to stage extraordinary major events.''

Thorpe believes the nation's intrinsic ''love of sport'' and existing infrastructure will prove a huge asset to the bid. But while the majority of Australians are firmly behind the bid, Thorpe says they need to better understand just how big it can really become.

"I think the Australian people have an idea after the success of the Sydney Olympics but many would not realise what hosting a FIFA World Cup means to the entire nation,'' he said. ''It would strengthen our position in key markets in our time zone, and tourism would go through the roof.

''I feel very honoured to support my home country in a small way with the bid. It would be unbelievable for the game in this country if we were successful.''

Thorpe's sporting priorities may have been largely water-based in the past but he's a keen follower of the world game, where he continues to monitor both the English Premier League and the A-League.

''My dad has always followed Tottenham and I followed [them] and have attended a game at White Hart Lane,'' he said. ''I was involved in the launch of Sydney FC and it was great to see them do so well this year.''

This will not be Thorpe's first foray in the world of event lobbying, having already been involved in New York's ultimately unsuccessful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.

''[I've learnt] these are long and complicated processes that incorporate not only the logistics of staging an event but the importance of lobbying and communicating with so many different people,'' he said. ''Also, don't take anything for granted.''

Meanwhile, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backpedalled from comments made over the weekend that he wants the World Cup to go to Qatar in 2022, saying he's made no deals to see the event head to the Middle East.

''I have most certainly not made any deal. How could I? As president of FIFA I would never misuse my office,'' Blatter told German newspaper Sddeutsche Zeitung.

''I did the same in Qatar as I did with Mr Medvedev and Mr Putin in Moscow. [It's] what I also did in Japan and with the Korean president. I have told them all: 'Your candidacy is good, but it is not I who decides but 24 members of the executive committee'. I do that in every country.''

 

[midfielder]

HMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmm ... seems Kevin 07 will pay the AFL and NRL for Football playing the WC ... on top of their new stadiums....

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-nrl-super-to-play-on-during-world-cup/story-e6frf9io-1225859226514?from=public_js

RIVAL football codes will receive Government guarantees that they can continue their seasons uninterrupted if Australia wins the right to host soccer's World Cup in 2018 or 2022.

The assurances from the Rudd Government remove the fear that the AFL, NRL and Super 14 competitions would have to be suspended - or even cancelled - during a World Cup hosted here, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The Government sweetener also includes a multimillion-dollar package for the rival codes to compensate for switching their games to non-World Cup stadiums.

The Federal Government will include the guarantee that the seasons won't have to be suspended in an agreement that will bind all codes into supporting the bid - with the Government prepared to sign it.

The NRL and AFL, in particular, have been up in arms over FIFA's insistence that no other major sporting event can be played in the same city as a World Cup venue for the duration of the tournament.

That and compensation for lost revenue have been the major issues confronting the taskforce charged with securing agreement from the other codes.

But sources close to the taskforce told The Daily Telegraph that no codes will be forced to suspend their seasons if they want to continue throughout a World Cup.

The stadiums used for the World Cup - up to 12 - will still be off-limits, but the other codes will be free to continue their seasons elsewhere, including big events such as Origin.

The source also indicated that broad agreement had been reached on the formulas for assessing which codes receive compensation for moving their games from grounds such as the MCG and ANZ Stadium. "Central to the agreement is an assurance that all codes will be able to continue their seasons in the event of a successful World Cup bid," the source said..

"Season continuity has the absolute backing of the Australian Government, which maintains that the home-and-away seasons of all codes should and will be played in the lead-up to and during the World Cup. These fixtures will not divert attention or resources away from what is the biggest single sporting event in the world."

FIFA's concern over competing events surrounds the ability of police, hotels and transport systems to cope with multiple commitments, and the source emphasised that the government does not believe that will be an issue with the other codes continuing.

FIFA's decision to allow a rugby international in Cape Town on June 12 - the day after France play Uruguay in the World Cup in the same city - is being cited as a precedent, along with the continuation of Major League Baseball in the US in 1994.

 

[Jesus]

Age is saying we dont yet have approval to play at MCG.

Big loss for melbourne. Great news for NSW.

Give melb 1 stadium, have newy, sfs, homebush, blacktown, and new stadium at tuggerah, halve it post world cup and demolish bluey

 

[midfielder]

Two good articles on the WC bid in the smh today the first from Tim Cahil & the second by Vraig Foster ...


First the Tim Cahill article.. written by ADRIAN PROSZENKO

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/it-would-be-a-travesty-not-to-show-people-australia-and-what-we-have-20100501-u055.html

'It would be a travesty not to show people Australia and what we have'
THE CUP BID ADRIAN PROSZENKO
May 2, 2010
TIM CAHILL says it would be a travesty if the World Cup didn't come to Australia.

''For Australian football, the heritage that we have and what we can give to the world is exceptional,'' Cahill told The Sun-Herald. ''What it can do for the kids of Australia and the [game's] development, everything all in together, it would be a travesty not to show people Australia and what we have to offer.

''The food, the beaches, the lifestyle, the multiculturalism. The experience of [being with] great people. It would be great for the world but the greatest gain would be the development of football in Australia.''

Football Federation Australia is finalising its bid to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. However, Cahill's immediate focus is on the Socceroos' campaign in South Africa. Australia will face Germany in their opening encounter.

''It's never a good time to play Germany but statistics show that Germany starts slow,'' Cahill said.

''They are one of the strongest teams in the world and in every single competition they have either won it or been in the top four consistently.

''They are very compact, very disciplined. They have great players and that game is going to be the telling game for the group.''

The odds are against the Socceroos repeating their 2006 heroics after drawing Germany, Ghana and Serbia in the group stage. However, the Everton midfielder believes another upset is on the cards.

''If we can get through our group first or second, it would be a massive achievement,'' Cahill said. ''These are all one-off games but absolutely anything can happen.''

Should the Socceroos progress, England is likely to stand in the way of a quarter-final berth. Asked about a potential showdown against the old enemy, the 30-year-old said: ''I never stop dreaming, mate.

''To be honest with you, whether it's England or anyone, my biggest dream as a kid was to win the World Cup. We're not there to make up the numbers, we're there to do the best we can.

''For us, we've got a good work ethic, good players, good lads. Obviously we have good management that keep our feet on the ground and make us remember it's one game at a time.

''England will be added spice because of the other sports involved and the friendly banter. That would have all the things for a feisty game.''

Cahill's Premier League side, Everton, will visit Australia in July for a three-game tour. ''It's fantastic for Everton and fantastic for Australian football,'' he said.

''At the moment I don't know what my involvement is because of the World Cup and they're coming quite early. It's massive. Hopefully that helps the development of Australian football and puts some more inspiration back into the kids.''

 

[midfielder]

Fozzie's article...

Rival bidders for World Cup seize on our weak point: parochial stupidity
CRAIG FOSTER
May 2, 2010
This week, for the first time, I was embarrassed to be Australian. Picture this. I get a call from a Middle Eastern journalist about the progress of Australia's World Cup bid since FIFA president Sepp Blatter publicly praised Qatar, home of Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Football's supremo talked publicly about bringing the Arab world together through football, which is a worry, because Blatter seeks above all else to establish his own personal legacy to football, and to the world. It's a new and significant hurdle the Australian bid must overcome.

Qatar has offered to build fully airconditioned stadiums and underground training facilities and is reportedly spending close to $US180 million ($194 million) on its bid, four times what the Australian government has committed to ours.

Marvellous idea that, airconditioned stadiums, I had to admit as the interview went on. So, the reporter asked, were our stadium deals finalised yet and what did I think about the blockades erected by other codes?

I explained that we expected news imminently, because a deal was still under negotiation to placate other codes during the tournament. Still under negotiation. After one year. It's hard to believe, let alone admit.

My interviewer's logical follow-up was to ask if there was still no consensus on wanting to host the World Cup. And just like that, the sad reality became clear. Our rival bidders are using this against us.

I wanted to yell, ''Of course there is - greatest sporting nation on earth, this one - we understand the value and privilege of hosting the world.''

But I could not tell a lie, for here we are, almost a year after the bid was announced, and the squabbling over small patches of turf continues.

This country, which was built on magnificent sporting achievements, is ruining its own chances through small-minded parochialism, and the entire world is witnessing the comical scenes that embarrass us all.

AFL management says it does not want to deprive a section of Australians the chance to see their sport during the tournament. They are, surely, having a lend of us. They may deprive the world of an opportunity to see Australia for an entire month. Small minds run small games.

Twenty-four billion viewers over one month wasted by navel gazing over a few fixtures. Play them before, during, after, or never, for all the world cares. Just put the nation first.

If you live here and understand the small mentality of other codes it is predictable, but try explaining this to a journalist from anywhere else - particularly one from a rival country looking for every angle to exploit.

Even the USA - home of the other over-hyped domestic sports, baseball and NFL - agreed to host the World Cup in 1994 and is making a good fist of it again. Americans can always unite under their national interest.

Yet Australia, so far, cannot. We had the Olympic games, but that won't happen again any time soon.

We have had Commonwealth Games and rugby tournaments. But this time, those who govern sports the world has barely heard of are risking an opportunity to launch this country into a brighter global reality in the new century.

This is a grand vision and, increasingly after Blatter's public posturing this week, a fierce political battle in which Australia must present a united face to the world for the next seven months.

And yet, the few whose vision does not extend beyond the Gulf of Carpentaria are giving the country a bad name. They tarnish the image of Australia as a proud, outward-looking sporting nation.

After Blatter's comments, Football Federation Australia's chairman, Frank Lowy, said Australia must unite behind the bid, because candidate nations have to prove they are committed to the cause.

It is high time Australians demanded more from those at the bargaining table. We are better, and bigger, than this. So get the deal done and stop the rot, for the love of God. If love of country is not enough.

 

[goingtoadisco]

Best article Foster has written in a while.

 

[Jesus]

Best article Foster has written in a while.

Didnt even mention that it would be a travesty to hold the world cup anywhere but the Camp Nou

 

[midfielder]

Japs have pulled out of 2018 bid...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/8659185.stm

Japan drops bid to host 2018 World Cup to aim for 2022


Blatter told the Japanese authorities to focus on the 2022 tournament

The Japanese Football Association has pulled out of the bidding to host the 2018 World Cup - but remains in the running for the 2022 tournament.

Japan's exit leaves England as one of six bidders looking to host either tournament, with Fifa to name the hosts for both in December.

Australia, Russia, the United States, Belgium/Netherlands and Spain/Portugal are also in the hat for both.
Qatar and 2002 co-hosts South Korea are bidding solely for the 2022 event.

Confirming Japan's decision to focus on trying to win the right to host the 2022 World Cup, JFA president Motoaki Inukai suggested that Fifa is keen for the 2018 tournament to be held in Europe.
"We were told European countries would be in a fierce tussle for 2018 and that aiming for 2022 would the best choice," he said.


Indonesia and Mexico had also planned to bid, but Mexico withdrew last September citing a lack of funding, while Indonesia's bid to host the 2022 tournament was rejected in March, with Fifa stating that required documents and guarantees had not been received.

England's bid includes a plan to use 15 stadia in 12 cities, including an expanded Home Park in Plymouth and new Bristol City stadium.

Bidders must submit their final 'bid books' on 14 May ahead of Fifa inspections in August and September.

 

[pjennings]

AFL first
New stadium in Perth for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Adelaide for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Geelong for the AFL oval shaped.
Upgrade to the MCG AFL heartland oval
New stadium in Carrara for the AFL oval shaped

Rugby League

New Stadium in North Queensland .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Suncorp .. upgrade .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Newcastle upgrade Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Aussie upgrade Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant
Homebush huge upgrade for a ground used mainly for RL .. yes some Socceroo matches will be played their

Now a battle over WS stadium .. Blacktown for Football Campbelltown for RL
Football

Canberra stadium we may be the first tenant in this stadium

To me it seems crazy beyond understandability that the AFL should get compensation on top of  four new stadiums and the MCG upgrade. The RL the same especially when they refused to send a letter of support to FFA when RU did to get a rectangular stadium built in Perth all that was asked was if they established a team in Perth they would  play at the new stadium.

The only good thing about the number of ovals is that it makes it easy to drop those stadiums when getting to the 10 needed.

You would think that Geelong and Carrara would likely drop from that list. That leaves Perth, Adelaide and the MCG. The MCG will be in the bid. A stadium of some sort will be in the Adelaide and Perth. The bid only needs a guarantee from the relevant govts that a stadium will be delivered.

Whether that is the Adelaide Oval already promised by the State govt for a cost of $450 million or a $550 million multi-purpose 'riverside' stadium does not need to be decided - just that one will be built. Same goes for Perth.

I suspect that we will have two ovals - the MCG and Perth - with a multi-purpose in Adelaide and possibly another in Geelong.

The Western Sydney stadium I believe will end up being at Liverpool - specifically at the Bulldogs OASIS site.

FIFA, in their guidelines for building stadiums warns against building stadiums that will not be used. I believe that the FFA is reacting to this  - and the reality that is the Australian sporting landscape.

While a large chunk of cash will help other codes - the upside is that there is also the need for 32 training facilities around the country. This is where a large football legacy can be built.

 

[marinermick]

AFL first
New stadium in Perth for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Adelaide for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Geelong for the AFL oval shaped.
Upgrade to the MCG … AFL heartland oval
New stadium in Carrara for the AFL oval shaped

Rugby League

New Stadium in North Queensland .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Suncorp .. upgrade .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Newcastle upgrade … Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Aussie upgrade … Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant
Homebush … huge upgrade for a ground used mainly for RL .. yes some Socceroo matches will be played their

Now a battle over WS stadium .. Blacktown for Football Campbelltown for RL…
Football

Canberra stadium … we may be the first tenant in this stadium…

To me it seems crazy beyond understandability that the AFL should get compensation on top of  four new stadiums and the MCG upgrade…. The RL the same especially when they refused to send a letter of support to FFA when RU did to get a rectangular stadium built in Perth … all that was asked was if they established a team in Perth they would  play at the new stadium.

While a large chunk of cash will help other codes - the upside is that there is also the need for 32 training facilities around the country. This is where a large football legacy can be built.

excellent point

there well could be a fantastic legacy on the central coast at more than one training venue

 

[Jesus]

AFL first
New stadium in Perth for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Adelaide for the AFL oval shaped
New stadium in Geelong for the AFL oval shaped.
Upgrade to the MCG … AFL heartland oval
New stadium in Carrara for the AFL oval shaped

Rugby League

New Stadium in North Queensland .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Suncorp .. upgrade .. Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Newcastle upgrade … Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant

Aussie upgrade … Football shared tenant but very much the junior tenant
Homebush … huge upgrade for a ground used mainly for RL .. yes some Socceroo matches will be played their

Now a battle over WS stadium .. Blacktown for Football Campbelltown for RL…
Football

Canberra stadium … we may be the first tenant in this stadium…

To me it seems crazy beyond understandability that the AFL should get compensation on top of  four new stadiums and the MCG upgrade…. The RL the same especially when they refused to send a letter of support to FFA when RU did to get a rectangular stadium built in Perth … all that was asked was if they established a team in Perth they would  play at the new stadium.

While a large chunk of cash will help other codes - the upside is that there is also the need for 32 training facilities around the country. This is where a large football legacy can be built.

excellent point

there well could be a fantastic legacy on the central coast at more than one training venue

I think if we are building or upgrading 6 stadiums for Alf, they are getting more than enough compensation.

Hopefully we do get the training grounds, though i would not rule out alf and RL making playes for most of them too

 

[midfielder]

From the oz today ... the AFL will close down for two weeks of the WC...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/rivals-made-to-wait-for-world-cup-payback/story-e6frg7mf-1225862279293

Rivals made to wait for World Cup payback
Greg Denham and Patrick Smith From: The Australian May 05, 2010 12:00AM

SOCCER'S three rival codes - Australian football, rugby league and rugby union - will not know their financial compensation until after the World Cup is over. All three will be severely disrupted if Australia's bid to stage the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022 is successful.

It is believed all codes have agreed on a complicated formula, which will determine compensation from FIFA, soccer's international governing body.

In a World Cup bid document seen by The Australian, compensation takes into account:

► Any drop in attendances at smaller venues;

► Any decrease in club memberships leading to a drop in revenue;

► The financial incentives at major venues that will not be achieved;

► An increase in the cost of travel and logistics;

► Home-ground advantage being compromised, and;

► Supporters inconvenienced, with clubs and fans forced to travel interstate more.

It is believed the formula varies for each code.



For example, rugby union must take into account its heavy international program. The AFL has agreed to shut its season down nationally for two straight weekends should the bid be successful.

In correspondence between the AFL and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinets Football World Cup Bid Taskforce, the AFL commission lists a number of proposals and concessions it is prepared to consider to facilitate the bid.

Final World Cup bid documents must be lodged by Friday week. By starting either the 2018 or the 2022 season a fortnight earlier, the AFL is prepared to not play during the World Cup semi-finals and the final.

To start either season early, or possibly end later, it would require government support to ensure the MCG, Adelaide Oval, the Gabba and the SCG are made available due to the potential overlap of cricket. But the league requires a temporary waiving of contracts it is, or will be, party to at six AFL venues the MCG, Skilled Stadium, ANZ Stadium, Adelaide Oval, Subiaco Oval and the Gold Coast Stadium.

The AFL is prepared to play premiership matches in secondary markets in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and ACT, as well as at suitable alternative venues in Adelaide and Perth at no additional cost to the AFL.

It also promises not to play AFL games head to head with World Cup matches on the same day in the same city.

In return, the AFL requests that FIFA waive the "no other events clause" and "no-go zones" during the tournament scheduled for June-July.

And the AFL is prepared to give the MCG up for a maximum of 10 weeks.

All parties are bewildered by a claim in the Melbourne media that the AFL was seeking a massive financial demand in its compensation bid for freeing up the MCG. The AFL estimates that at least 56 games would have to be relocated from traditional venues.

 

[midfielder]

HMMMMMMMMMmm second article today in the media ... But I hope the last line in this article from the TerrOR is incorrect...

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/blacktown-set-for-stadium-nod/story-e6frexnr-1225862286200

Blacktown set for stadium nod

By Josh Massoud and James Phelps From: The Daily Terrorgraph May 05, 2010 12:00AM

BLACKTOWN, not Campbelltown, is now tipped to win a new 50,000-seat stadium as part of Australia's 2018-2022 football World Cup bid.

After learning the AFL would not allow the use of Etihad Stadium, the FFA has spent the past six months debating the best alternative site for the 12th and final venue.

Campbelltown was widely expected to get the nod after winning support from the NRL, but sources close to the FFA and NSW Government tell us the new stadium will be promised to Sydney's booming northwest.

With the FFA due to submit its bid next Friday, an announcement is expected any moment now.

In the meantime, soccer officials are still desperately trying to secure support from the rival codes to sign off on the bid document.

While the NRL and rugby are understood to be on board, the



AFL is still making life difficult in regards to its long-term lease with the MCG that extends past both future World Cups.

Dare we speculate that if the new Blacktown Stadium happens to be oval-shaped - and therefore compatible to the new GWS franchise's needs - Andrew Demitriou will roll over?

 

[Jesus]

In the end, if it is all decided after the world cup, you would hope the feds give them nothing, as it is well within the constitution for the feds to simply make it law for alf and rugby league to not do things on certain dates.

Though let them play same time as world cup if they are crazy enough to do it

 

[marinermick]

Qatar playing dirty:

http://www.qatar2022bid.com/lognew/?post=27

check comments at bottom of page

 

[Jesus]

If FIFA is to pay the compensation, i would not expect much as it happens post world cup. If the govt cant get money from james hardys parent company, then the Alf would have little recourse to get it off fifa

 

[Jesus]

Qatar playing dirty:

http://www.qatar2022bid.com/lognew/?post=27

check comments at bottom of page

I think it would be common knowldge in bidding circles the troubles we are having. The question will be whether FIFA sees it as a hinderance, or a positive

 

[midfielder]

Qatar playing dirty:

http://www.qatar2022bid.com/lognew/?post=27

check comments at bottom of page

Mick you should read some AFL blogs ... many AFL folk are doing everything they can to destroy the bid... and posting on other bid sites would make them happy...

But for the AFL to want all cost paid to them plus 100 million for the MCG for ten weeks is beyond greedy...plus now it appears holding off signing the MCG over unless the Blacktown stadium is in an oval shape and the bid is due in next Thursday...

I wish we had gone ahead with the bid without trying to get AFL involved .. a winning bid means the AFL get 5 stadiums plus around 250 million dollars  plus the MCG done up.. and all because they control the MCG lease...

Would have been easier IMO with hindsight to rule out the MCG & the Dome early on and ask for Swan Street to be expanded.. and said to the AFL play during the WC and and take on the WC if you want...

 

[curious]

Mick you should read some AFL blogs ... many AFL folk are doing everything they can to destroy the bid... and posting on other bid sites would make them happy...

But for the AFL to want all cost paid to them plus 100 million for the MCG for ten weeks is beyond greedy...plus now it appears holding off signing the MCG over unless the Blacktown stadium is in an oval shape and the bid is due in next Thursday...

Do you have a source for this figure, mf? And the suggestion the new west sydney stadium would be oval was just a stab in the dark by a journo having a wild guess at a political motive.

I wish we had gone ahead with the bid without trying to get AFL involved .. a winning bid means the AFL get 5 stadiums plus around 250 million dollars  plus the MCG done up.. and all because they control the MCG lease...

And this?

Would have been easier IMO with hindsight to rule out the MCG & the Dome early on and ask for Swan Street to be expanded.. and said to the AFL play during the WC and and take on the WC if you want...

Think about it if that was to happen.  WC tickets will be pre-sold long before the event and I a have feeling in my water that the buyers won't be regular afl attendees. The afl would still get their big crowds, their television coverage and likely their press coverage, or possibly even more to combat the WC press.

Having use of the MCG and the WC having much smaller capacity stadiums with the largest being ANZ, they could schedule as many of their derbies as possible during the cup and probably get larger numbers to the MCG than the WC was getting to their matches. That would be embarrassing, eh? Great promotion tool for the afl, however.

Don't doubt for a moment they couldn't do as I suggest above. After only 6 rounds so far this season, they have 8 MCG matches exceeding 60k, 5 exceeding 70k, 1 exceeding 80k and 1 exceeding 90k. It's best for propaganda purposes the afl are kept far away from the MCG.

 

[goingtoadisco]

Was going to go watch some western sydney AFL games. Can confirm that wont be happening now.