Ex-pat Australians being recruited for World Cup cause
Australia’s estimated 1 million diaspora are to be recruited to the cause of Australia hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at an Australian Business in the Gulf luncheon with the Socceroos in Dubai, Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO, Ben Buckley said that Australians around the world will form an important part of FFA-s bid strategy for 2018.
“There are an estimated 1 million Australians who live outside Australia.
“Whether you-re out of the country for a few years or the rest of your life, your heart and your mind is, and always will be, I hope, for the green and gold,” Buckley told the audience of Dubai-based expatriates.
“Later this year we will be inviting the Australian diaspora to be our ‘eyes and ears- in developing our World Cup bid.”
Buckley said that people living and working overseas have a unique opportunity to promote Australia, talk about football and let people know of Australia-s capacity and expertise to host major events.
“We will be inviting you to be our spokespersons for home, and to help spread the word of the why and how Australia would be a wonderful place to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“In other words, we would like you to be Australia-s football ambassadors for 2018 in your adopted country.”
Buckley said that FFA intends formally launching its bid later in the year when there are a number of “ducks in a row”.
Buckley told the audience that all Australian governments are fully supportive of FFA-s aspirations to host the 2018 World Cup.
“It is a ‘David and Goliath- task when we-re up against the likes of England, Russia and others.
“But we think winning the right to host it is very achievable, particularly if we can draw upon the worldwide Australian community to help us,” Buckley said.