POSTED: Monday November 30th 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTRALIA'S BID EFFORTS TO INCREASE WITH ONE YEAR TO GO
FFA Chairman, Frank Lowy AC and CEO, Ben Buckley, will first visit Tygerberg Children's Hospital outside of Cape Town as the guest of the hospital's Patron, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
One year out from
the decision on who will host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments,
Football Federation Australia (FFA) is in Cape Town this week in the first
of three significant opportunities for bidding nations to present their case to
the international football community.
But before getting
the formal promotional program underway, Football Federation Australia Chairman,
Frank Lowy AC and CEO, Ben Buckley, will first visit Tygerberg Children’s
Hospital outside of Cape Town as the guest of the hospital’s Patron, Archbishop
Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
“I met with
Archbishop Tutu when I was here in June and the visit [on Tuesday] is the
culmination of some work FFA has been doing as a result of that visit,” said
Buckley.
“Tygerberg
Children’s Hospital is a very special facility that is involved in outstanding
work to help children who are very vulnerable and very
ill.”
Also accompanying
Lowy and Buckley are the eight state and territory winners of the ‘Come Write!
Come Play!’ competition - the eight children from around Australia who will help
promote Australia’s bid for the 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup throughout the week as
‘emissaries’.
Later on Tuesday,
Lowy, Buckley and Qantas Socceroos Head Coach, Pim Verbeek, will be the guests
of honour at a reception hosted by the Australian High Commissioner, Ann
Harrap.
“We’re delighted
that, once again, the Australian Government is demonstrating their support
for the Bid by hosting this reception and allowing us to present our credentials
to the business and political community in Cape Town.”
Buckley said that
the reception gave FFA an opportunity to launch a new promotional package aimed
at showcasing Australia’s bid.
“With one year to
go, it’s time to step up our efforts from now and throughout 2010 until ‘d’
Day.”
Federal Sports
Minister Kate Ellis will also join the lobbying group towards the end of
the week.
Ellis
will visit a local school with the eight child emissaries as part of the
1GOAL program, as well as participate in FIFA’s official Bidding Nations Media
Expo on Friday morning and attend the Draw for the 2010 FIFA World
Cup.
“The Media
Expo is the first time all 10 bidders will in the one room overtly
presenting their bids,” Buckley said.
“FIFA has set a
level playing field by giving each of us guidelines to adhere to, but we believe
Australia’s credentials and our emissaries representing the young people of
Australia will help set us apart and position us strongly.
“It’s a high
quality, competitive field that we’re in, but we are very encouraged by the
feedback on our work to date.
“Our work and our
efforts over the next twelve months will increase in 2010 and be
even more targeted to make sure we bring the FIFA World Cup home to Australia in
2018 or 2022.
“We offer a ‘no
worries’ World Cup which is also fun, relaxed, safe and secure, a great
destination and provides a warm welcome,” Buckley said.
There are nine other bidders representing 11 countries. The decision on the the winners will be made on 2 December 2010.
Australia can show
their support by joining the bid at www.australia2018-2022.com.au
# # #
Keywords · FIFA World Cup · Final Draw · FFA · Frank Lowry · Desmond Tutu · Tygerberg Children's Hospital
Name: Bonita Mersiades
Organization: FFA Football Federation Australia
Email:
Phone: +61 2 8354 5544
URL: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/default.aspx?s=home
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