By Con Stamocostas -
June 27th 2009 @ 1:22am
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Loading ...How Australia will win its bid for the World Cup
FIFA President Sepp Blatter, left, talks with Football Australia chairman Frank Lowy as they arrive at the opening ceremony for the 58th FIFA congress in Sydney, Thursday, May 29, 2008. AP Photo/Mark Baker
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?
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(29)
andrewMc said | June 27th 2009 @ 6:55am | Report comment
There is a big issue that no one has really been discussing lately and that is what will happen if only one bid gets put forward from Asia.
Ok, yes Australia would have the strongest bid, but we have to ask the question, do we have the political support in Asia. I don’t know the exact system for how Asia would chose its sole bidder, but consider the scenario that each member state gets one vote. So, all the Middle Eastern countries would vote for Qatar, all the ASEAN countries would vote for Indonesia. That leaves Australia, South Korea and Japan scrapping it out to get the votes from the countries that lay between India, the former Soviet states and Mongolia. Would we have the political weight in Asia to pull that off, regardless of how good our bid, or how bad someone else’s bid would be??
I just hope that the FFA are aware of this possibilty and are saving money to also impress some of the AFC delegates and not spending it all on Uncle Sepp and friends.
Any thoughts?
mattbeks said | June 27th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment
Lets do it . Let’s get the world cup to Australia, not just because we want it here but to prove to the elitest snobs from UEFA that we are just as good as them if not better.
Winds me up over in the UK when people talk about the Socceroos in a derogatory fashion. Let’s prove to the world we’re awesome!
We won’t just get the world cup, it’ll be the best World Cup the world has seen!
Timmypig said | June 27th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
QUOTE: 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.”
One would say the same about this country, but I think it’s irrelevant in this debate. It’s not the challenge (it wasn’t for USA 94).
Our challenges are the European bias in world football’s power, and the Iberian bid in particular will be the front runner. Then I see Russia as the primary challenge. Russia’s economy is in free fall at the moment, but that will pick up as soon as the global economy does (and the commodity prices start climbing again).
To be frank I don’t care what effect hosting a World Cup might have on football in this country; I’m more interested in having the world’s biggest sporting circus in town. I went skiing in NZ in 2000 to avoid the Olympics; I’ll stay in Australia for the World Cpu!
Joe FC said | June 27th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
It’s not going to be an easy task Con but nothing worthwhile ever is.
VootballKid said | June 27th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
I think we have an excellent chance due to the whole expanding Asian market thing. You know what? I think that Blatter already has it in his mind to award 2018 or 2022 to Australia. And it’s all down to Lowy’s political influence which seems to have no bound. Furthermore, while Lowy may not have an iron-clad assurance from Blatter, and it comes down to the FIFA committee, I think that Lowy has taken the positive signs and used it to produce that very remarkable bipartisan support from our political leaders in Australia’s bid.
Midfielder said | June 27th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Timmypig
Disagree with comparing the US sporting position to that of Australia in relation to football.
First Gridiron is by way the number one code in the US … whereas AFL is kinda first among equals shared with RL, RU & Football. Second in the US football is much for a middle class game and struggles for support from the working class… in Australia football is very much a working class game. Thirdly football enjoys the second sport choice of many RL / AFL & RU folk.. Finally being in Asia and wanting to connect with Asian business will in time (look no further than Clive Palmer) bring a lot of business / government & media support… The business & government is already there and building… the media will follow…
Midfielder said | June 27th 2009 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Con Excellent article.
Mr Grumpy said | June 27th 2009 @ 10:29am | Report comment
The 24-member committee vote in December 2010.
More importantly, what will the $45.6 million from taxpayers be used for? For altruistic means or trying to gain favours with FIFA executive members such as Jack Warner from Concacaf?
The economic benefits from hosting the biggest sporting event on the planet are massive, even considering the upgrade or building of new stadia. At least new stadia would receive more use than some facilities from the 2000 Olympic Summer Games.
But given the lack of accountability within FIFA, can we be guaranteed the federal govenment’s cash will not be placed into Swiss bank accounts of FIFA members?
The odds are against us winning 2018 due to Europe, the centre of world football, having last held the tournament in 2006. Australian officials will benefit from learning the political ropes of international football. Remember, Sydney was Australia’s third consecutive bid to host the Olympic Games, following the failures of Brisbane (1992) ad Melbourne (1996).
If Asia does not win the right to host either in 2018 or 2022, then the elephant in the region looms for subsequent bids, China.
Frank Lowy was pleased when China decided not to bid for either tournament.
Pippinu said | June 27th 2009 @ 11:18am | Report comment
Con
good article.
It’s all about the 24 blokes on the FIFA Executive. To talk about anything else is neither here or there, it’s about the 24 blokes (amongst whom we will find the most corrupt men on Earth and for whom it is impossible to find a big enough trough for their collective snouts).
You started analysing the breakdown, but stopped short – this is an area worth exploring.
By the way, can you or anyone confirm whether a couple of the bidders are only going after 2022 and not 2018 (most are going for both).
Macs.football said | June 27th 2009 @ 11:43am | Report comment
Qatar and Korea are only bidding for 2022.
Pippinu said | June 27th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
Thanks Mac – I thought it was two (that were bidding for 2022 only).
When Europe gets 2018 (as it inevitably will), about four will drop out, and another two will rejoin the process – but the chances against those that remain for 2022 are damn good (plus I think we’re better off waiting that long to get our infrastructure spot on).
Viscount Crouchback said | June 27th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
It would be completely absurd if Australia were to be awarded the World Cup. Why should FIFA choose a nation of just 21m people who don’t even like football much?
Also, it is outrageous that the likes of Spain and the United States are even applying. They had it in 1982 and 1994 respectively. It is simply greedy and selfish for them to be applying again so soon.
Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that England’s turn is long overdue.
Dave said | June 27th 2009 @ 1:31pm | Report comment
Midfielder
The comaprison to the NFL is a good one. The AFL and the NRL are by far the most popular football codes in australia.
Midfielder said | June 27th 2009 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Viscount Crouchback
8.85 million watched the 2005 World Cup Qualifier against Uruguay… The World Cup match Australia V Japan 7.8 million… at 2:00 AM on a cold winter’s morning 6.85 million watched Italy V Australia … cough cough wink wink … so whats that again Australian don’t like football …
Viscount Crouchback said | June 27th 2009 @ 2:28pm | Report comment
Well, Australians get behind their countrymen on the world stage – we know that. But it’s not the same thing as having a deep, visceral love of footer.
And I don’t buy this Asian nonsense at all. It’s just a way of hiding the fact that Australia is a relatively small market.
matty1974 said | June 27th 2009 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Most observers would agree that one of the 2018-2022 World Cups will go the Europe (9 of the 24 man executive are European) which means that the other WC has to go to either Concacaf (USA & Mexico) or Asia. I think it will come down to TV money. I’m pretty sure that the reason for awarding both WC’s at the same time is to lock in TV revenues now. The last USA WC in 1994 saw the majority of the matches played in the heat of the daytime, so that the games would be screened into European TV prime time. Will the next USA bid be happy to do this again? or will they want more games played in USA TV prime time? If so, these matches will screen in Europe in the wee small hours and in Asia in the early morning. In contrast an Australian WC would see matches played in prime time in Australia and Asia and in the morning or lunchtime in Europe. I would think that the European and Asian TV markets are the most important to FIFA’s corporate partners?
Midfielder said | June 27th 2009 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
Viscount Crouchback
You don’t buy the Asian nonsense … well well well …. government & business have… just to explain Asian shares a similar time zone to Australia and has 4.5 billion people many who love football …. it will showcase off Australia to the fastest growing area in the world …. and as Gun’s & Roses say … http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yir4erYkyIs once you get use to the idea
Viscount Crouchback said | June 27th 2009 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
When I say I don’t buy the Asian nonsense, I mean simply that Australia, culturally, is not particularly Asian. Indeed, “Asia” itself is a wholly artificial construct. I don’t believe that the Chinese or Indians will be any more motivated to start playing football just because they see a World Cup being held in Australia. It will make no difference to them at all & might as well be held in England for all they care. If your aim is to crack the Asian market, then you play the Cup in China or India – you don’t play it in a peripheral nation of 21m that is “Asian” in name only. It’s like trying to crack the north American market by playing the tournament in Jamaica.
The Asian schtick is just clever PR from Lowy – nothing more, nothing less.
VootballKid said | June 27th 2009 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
Yeah Pippinu, England’s probably got 2018 in the bag. 2022 is more likely for us.
Viscount Crouchback said:
“..it is outrageous that the likes of Spain and the United States are even applying.” US hosted the most attended WC ever. It was extremely successful; great stadiums; great TV spectacle. 300 million multicultural population.
“Why should FIFA choose a nation of just 21m people who don’t even like football much?” It’s not even so much about the growth of the game within Australia although it will boost it. It’s because we have the right ingredients. We are a first world nation. We are a popular tourist destination; everyone likes Australia. We have the infrastructure (or could build it). FIFA wants another Asian host. We are in the Asian time zone and Asia is the biggest market. Japan and Korea have already done it and we have far less pollution than China. We have successfully hosted the Olympics, Rugby WC etc. We are safe and far from northern hemisphere hooliganism and terrorism.
mattbeks said | June 27th 2009 @ 6:03pm | Report comment
Viscount Crouchback,
This is typical of the Eurocentric bias FIFA is run on and typical of a Europeans response on Australian Football. I would reccommend you read into the history of Football in Australia, it started off as an ethnic sport and has turned mainstream in the past couple of years, something quite inspiring to say the least.
I love seeing the Aussies get one over against European opposition, we’ve come a long way from the days of ethnic based clubs. Most Europeans laugh at the very thought of an Australian football team, when we beat them it’s like there’s egg on their face. Sounds just like when the Ashes were invented…. the Brits looked down at us, we beat them at their own game and what happened was history. A typical example of Aussies proving a point. That’s why Aussie love the Socceroos.
To have a World Cup in Europe is just another world cup… big deal. Germany 2006 was an example. Yes, the Europeans were happy the tournament on their own backyard, but it in terms of television audience it wasn’t as sucessful as Japan/Korea 2002. It would make great business sense as there are a couple of billion audience in our time zone in prime time and the Europenas won’t be disadvantaged as they can watch at lunchtime. For some of the Brits over here they can start the drinking early and make a day of it. Fair enough Australia is only 21 million, but in terms of World Sport we’re right up there for pretty much everything… this is the last frontier for Aussie sport!
Pippinu said | June 27th 2009 @ 6:49pm | Report comment
I would not dismiss the “appealing to Asia’s teeming masses” outright – but the fact is that it’s more likely to come into play in making the decision for 2022 than 2018.
A counter argument is that, well, may as well hold it in Asia proper if we want to apeal to Asians – but – with China out of the bidding, the only two real alternatives to Austalia hosted the event only 7 years ago.
For the 2022 WC, the argument about appealing to Asia’s teeming masses will be almost impossible to counter, and Australia can benefit from it, no doubt.
2022 people, 2022, don’t worry about anything earlier.
Matt said | June 27th 2009 @ 11:15pm | Report comment
It would be nice to have but do we really want to be in bed with such a corrupt organisation?
Midfielder said | June 27th 2009 @ 11:54pm | Report comment
Matt
Massive statement Matt … based on what ???
Joe said | June 28th 2009 @ 12:15am | Report comment
Frank Lowy has an uncanny knack of getting what he wants – I reckon we’re a shoe-in for 2022.
MVDave said | June 28th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
From a New York Times article (lead article in their sports section today) on South Africa’s efforts to put together a World Cup tournament;
” The World Cup is viewed as a defining moment for South Africa, with $75 billion in improved roads, airports and other infrastructure; the creation of 415,000 jobs; the potential enhancement of international investment and tourism; and continued nation building in the wake of nearly half a century of apartheid.”
Lets hope (Sir) Frank Lowy and his fellow powerbrokers get it right and the tournament comes down under for the first time. The positives of any such tournament will be a real boost to Oz as it will be to SA.
Colin N said | June 28th 2009 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Surely it’s about time England hosted the world cup, isn’t it? It was in 1966 that it was last held in England. I don’t particularly see how FIFA particularly ‘need’ to expand into places like Australia, since Football is the most popular spectator sport in the world.
I would like to see the Aussies get it in 2022, and it probably is a more realistic proposition than 2018. Spain/Portugal and England seem to be the favourites for 2018, and Europe seems to be the prefered destination.
Captain Random said | June 29th 2009 @ 9:20am | Report comment
Maybe England deserves a WC more than Australia, maybe they don’t. It’s completely irrelevant in the context of this discussion, because one WC will go to Europe and one will go elsewhere. Therefore, Australia is not competing with England, Russia etc., but with USA, Japan, etc. for the right to host the WC that isn’t awarded to Europe.
So, having said that …
VC -
Since you don’t believe that the WC should go to Spain or the US (and following your reasoning, it shouldn’t go to Mexico, Japan or Korea either), who deserves the “non-Europe” WC ahead of Australia?
What’s that? You think both WCs should be awarded to Europe? Interesting.
MVDave said | July 5th 2009 @ 8:30am | Report comment
Kevin Rudd will be having a one on one with Sepp Blatter to spruke the Oz World Cup bid;
http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/rudd-to-talk-up-australia-as-showpiece-for-world-cup/2009/07/04/1246127734903.html
A quote from Ruddy Kev talking about the bid;
” “Apart from Cathy Freeman’s final in the 2000 Olympics, no other event united Australians more than our team’s win to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, and our subsequent games in Germany,” Rudd said.”
Nuff said.
Dave said | August 9th 2009 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Probably the reason he said this is because he was living overseas when Australia won the Americas cup in 1983.