Australia's Bid is prepared in all aspects: FIFA

Australia farewelled a delegation of FIFA inspectors last night as they prepared to leave the country after examining the credentials of Australia’s Bid to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022.

SYDNEY Wednesday 28 July

Australia farewelled a delegation of FIFA inspectors last night as they prepared to leave the country after examining the credentials of Australia-s Bid to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2022.

The FIFA inspection team consists of six delegates and was led by Chilean Football Federation President Harold Mayne-Nicholls and includes CEO of 2010 South Africa Local Organising Committee Danny Jordaan, FIFA Head of Event Management Jurgen Muller, FIFA Marketing representative David Fowler, FIFA Competitions representative Julio Avellar and FIFA Media Officer Wolfgang Eichler.

Australia was the third stop on tour of the nine countries that are bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™ tournaments. They were in Australia for three days.

Before departing Australia, the Head of Delegation Harold Mayne-Nicholls, made the following statement:

"After almost three days of inspection I, on behalf of the FIFA Inspection Group, would like to express some words. First of all my sincere thanks to the members of the Bid Committee, and Football Federation Australia, they together did an excellent job during our stay. Also thanks to all of the community and the authorities that treated us in a wonderful way and to all the footballers boys and girls present at some inspection site visits and to the police that did a magnificent job.

About the visit, we all agree that it was organized in a very professional way. We could check different venues and stadiums, airports and transportation systems, conventions and congress centers and also had the chance to meet the sponsors of the bid and to hear about the economic and financial condition of Australia and some predictions about the situation for the region in future years.

We also received the full support from the Government to the bid process. We appreciate the dinner that Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave us upon our arrival at Kiribilli House. For us was very impressive to know that the Opposition to the Government was also present at such a dinner. Beside that the commitment of the country seems to be outstanding, taking into consideration that both parties, in the middle of an election process, made time to enjoy a wonderful evening with us.

During the visit we had the chance to learn a lot about your country and especially about football in Australia. We are proud to know that programs such as Football United are used as a vehicle for social improvements that will help to build better communities: also it was very impressive to read that the growth of football in Australia in the last decade has been 60 per cent and that at the moment there are more than 600,000 players registered.

We also learnt that major events are not new for this country and we remembered such great moments in the history of sport in Australia when at the Olympic Stadium Cathy Freeman talked about her gold medal at the 2000 Olympics and when John Aloisi described his feelings before and after the penalty kick that took you to the World Cup in 2006. The visit to the Sports National Museum in Melbourne was very special and such a museum is for sure one of the best in the world.

We also heard about the promises to deliver new first class stadiums and to renovate the existing ones, the implementation of volunteers programs, the improvements in telecommunications and transportation that will take place and beside all that that if the World Cup comes to Australia in 2022, it will be more than a football tournament with four important areas in social development, including the Oceania countries in this program.

As a conclusion and after checking the bid book presentation on site, we must conclude that this country seems to be prepared in all the aspects to organize the World Cup in 2022."

At the end of the inspection tour, the delegation will submit an objective report to assist FIFA's 24 executive members select a host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™, which will be announced by FIFA on 2 December 2010 in Zurich.

Australia's bid also has complete bipartisan support.

Ten host cities have been selected as part of the Bid under Australia-s nationwide hosting proposal that will see FIFA World Cup™ matches in six states and territories. Three new stadiums will be built in Perth, Canberra and Blacktown in Western Sydney and nine others upgraded should the Bid be successful, providing a $2.8 billion infrastructure legacy for all sporting codes and generations to come.

All Australians can do their part to help bring the FIFA World Cup™ to Australia - add your name at australiabid.com.au