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Australia 2022 FIFA World Cup bid

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Main article: 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bids
File:Aus18-22bidlogo.jpg
Australia's 2018–2022 World Cup Bid logo.

The Australian bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups is currently under way. These will be the 21st and 22nd editions of the FIFA World Cup. The bidding procedure to host both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup began in January 2009, and national associations had until 2 February 2009 to register their interest.[1] The executive committee of FIFA will announce their decision on the two editions in December 2010.[2]

Schedule

Wikinews has related news:
Date Notes
15 January 2009 Applications formally invited
2 February 2009 Closing date for registering intention to bid
16 March 2009 Deadline to submit completed bid registration forms
14 May 2010 Deadline for submission of full details of bid
2 December 2010 FIFA to appoint hosts for 2018 and 2022 World Cups

Football Federation Australia first confirmed in November 2007 that Australia would bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup. After FIFA announced they would be accepting bids for both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup in December 2008, Australia registered their intention to bid with FIFA in February 2009, for either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.

There are 8 bidders (after Mexico withdrew [3]) for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with 2 other countries joining the 2022 bid. This is the first year that FIFA has invited countries to bid for simultaneous events.

The bid was officially launched on June 14, 2009 at Parliament House in Canberra. [4]

Potential venues

Australia has a selection of stadia that meet FIFA's seating criteria, however most of these are prominent cricket, rugby league and Australian football venues, many of which are usually used by these other sports during the time of the proposed World Cup. Former England international, Peter Withe, now living in Australia, observes that "there are some great stadiums in Australia but a lot of them are Aussie Rules arenas. These are not great for the round ball."[5] Dimensions of oval playing fields of stadia used for Australian football are given in the table below. ANZ stadium and Etihad stadium allow for side stands to be moved inwards for Rugby League, Rugby Union and football/soccer matches.

FIFA has drawn up a working list of 12 stadia for the bid and this list includes[6]:

Stadium Host City Current capacity Remarks Current non-FIFA Compliant Field Dimensions
Melbourne Cricket Ground Melbourne 100,000 Largest Stadium in southern hemisphere. 171 x 146 m.
ANZ Stadium Western Sydney 83,500 90,000 after proposed redevelopment, including a retractable roof. Most likely final venue.[7]>[8] current length 170 m,to be FIFA compliant after development
Subiaco Oval Perth 43,500 +60,000 capacity with retractable lower tier in proposed redevelopment.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). 191 x 127 m (current)
Sydney Football Stadium Sydney 45,500
EnergyAustralia Stadium Newcastle 26,164 +44,000 achieved by 33,000 sideline seats from 2011 and further expanded behind goals by +11,000 with either permanent or temporary seating for world cup
Dairy Farmers Stadium Townsville 26,500 +44,000 with upgrade.[9] NRL club CEO claims long term costs of too large stadium a disadvantage for Townsville.[10]
Canberra Stadium Canberra 25,011 +44,000 capacity, upgraded or replaced.[11]
Carrara Stadium Gold Coast 25,000 +44,000 upgrade, to be used in a 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.[12] 171 x 144 m
Proposed New Stadium Blacktown +44,000 to be reduced to 30-35,000 post World Cup as home ground of the Western Sydney Rovers.[13]
Kardinia Park Geelong 27,000 +44,000 seat rectangular configuration for the World Cup[14] 170 x 115 m

Many of these stadia require upgrading in order to meet FIFA requirements. Other stadia which could possibly be upgraded for use in a World Cup bid but are unlikely to be used:

Stadium City capacity remarks field dimensions (see below: note 1)
Etihad Stadium Melbourne 53,359 Reconfigurable stadium. availability currently ruled out - see below: note 2 170 m length
WACA Ground Perth 24,500
Parramatta Stadium Parramatta (Sydney) 21,487
AAMI Stadium West Lakes (Adelaide) 51,224 177 x 145 m
Sydney Cricket Ground Sydney 46,000 153 x 137 m
The Gabba Brisbane 42,000 170.6 x 149.9 m

note 1: field dimensions not corresponding with FIFA rules

note 2: The need for all World Cup stadia to be used only for World Cup games prior to and during the World Cup has caused controversy with the Australian Football League[15] and National Rugby League[16] governing bodies, who claim that loss of access to almost all their major venues for eight weeks would severely disrupt their seasons and even impact the viability of their clubs. The AFL in particular has advised it will not give up Etihad stadium in Melbourne[17][18] the management of Etihad Stadium has ruled out the stadium for the bid.[19] The use of these shared venues remains the only option for the bid, with the Australian authorities unwilling to invest massive amounts of money in new football-only stadia.[20] The development of Kardinia Park (Skilled Stadium) in Geelong has been proposed to replace the loss of Etihad Stadium in the FFA bid, following the World Cup the stadium would be reconfigured to a larger oval for AFL use.[21] Compensation claims for the disrupted seasons of the local codes may run into several hundred million dollars. The AFL and NRL and possibly also the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) will lobby for equity from government.

Cost concerns

Several stories[22][23][24] in the Australian media question the restrictions and privileges that FIFA will demand of host cities at taxpayer expense, in addition to the need to build and improve so many stadia[25][26] or whether "mega-events" like the World Cup are cost-effective.[27] The FFA has argued that these costs are overstated.[28]

Government support

Australia's bid has received government support from an early stage, with former-Prime Minister John Howard announcing federal and state/territory government support before FFA announced their intention to bid [29].

Bid Chairman Frank Lowy AC announced at the the bid launch that he has the personal commitment of Australia's Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, who announced the Federal Government's support for the bid in February 2008. In December 2008, Federal minister for sport Kate Ellis announced that the federal government would give Football Federation Australia $45.6 million [30] to fund its World Cup bid preparation. Leader of the Opposition Malcolm Turnbull affirmed the support of the Opposition on December 11, 2008 [31] and again at the formal launch of the bid in June 2009 [32].

Rudd met with Sepp Blatter to discuss the Federal Government's support of the bid in Zurich in July 2009. [33]

On the 23rd December 2009, with concerns over costs and effects of the bid upon other sporting codes, the Federal Government established a task force to take over much of the communication lacking by the bid in Australia. The taskforce will negotiate with governments regarding responsibility for stadium improvements, new facilities and financial guarantees. It will also organise and clarify ground-sharing arrangements with other sports and possible compensation for loss of venues.[34]

Bid website

Australia's bid website was launched 14 June 2009 and contains bid information as well as being a social media platform where users can share content and connect with each other.

At the launch, FFA chairman Frank Lowy AC said the people of Australia were its “secret weapon” to snaring the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup and encouraged the public to join the football-themed social networking web site. The public campaign is the first bid for a major event driven almost entirely by social media.[35] Actress Nicole Kidman has joined as the face of the bid.

References

  1. ^ Goff, Steve (16 January 2009). "Future World Cups". The Washington Post. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  2. ^ "Combined bidding confirmed". FIFA. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Mexico withdraws FIFA World Cup bid". FIFA. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  4. ^ "Australia launches dual World Cup bid". ABC. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  5. ^ "AFL fuming over soccer World Cup demands". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  6. ^ "Peter Withe Column: Indonesia And Australia Have Problems With World Cup Bids". Goal.com. Retrieved 2010-2-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/how-the-west-would-win--cup-means-new-stadium-20100321-qo4i.html
  8. ^ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/stadium-plans-to-seal-the-deal/story-e6frexnr-1225808841638
  9. ^ http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/10/24/88891_news.html
  10. ^ http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/12/09/99241_sport.html
  11. ^ http://www.canberrastadium.com.au/about/masterplan.php
  12. ^ http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24222978-952,00.html
  13. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/how-the-west-would-win--cup-means-new-stadium-20100321-qo4i.html
  14. ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-world-cup-stadium-push/story-e6frf9jf-1225835825699
  15. ^ "AFL concerns over world cup run deep". ABC. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  16. ^ "Soccer's plan to displace NRL". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  17. ^ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/cup-bid-needs-to-share-the-vision-20091212-kpim.html
  18. ^ "We won't be second to World Cup: AFL CEO". The Age. Retrieved 2010-03-20.
  19. ^ "Etihad stadium chief rules out world cup games". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  20. ^ "Two white elephants are born in Africa - Australia mustn't breed own". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
  21. ^ "Geelong World Cup stadium push". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2010-3-1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ^ "Strings attached to world cup bid". WA Today. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  23. ^ "Beware the coming soccer circus". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  24. ^ "Kennett criticises world cup planning". The Age. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  25. ^ "World cup bid needs reality cheque". Sunday Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  26. ^ "Up to $200m to upgrade stadium for world cup - out of whose pocket?". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  27. ^ "Buying our love with our money is just not sporting". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  28. ^ "FFA scoffs at world cup takeover". WA Today. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
  29. ^ "World Cup bid for 2018 gets political clout". The Age. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
  30. ^ "FFA receive A$45m for World Cup bid". Sport Business. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  31. ^ "2018 Soccer World Cup - Malcolm Turnbull". malcolmturnbull.com.au. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  32. ^ "Australia's Bid for the 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup - Malcolm Turnbull". malcolmturnbull.com.au. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  33. ^ "Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Meets Sepp Blatter To Discuss World Cup Bid". Goal.com website. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  34. ^ "Cup bid takeover conveniently buried in Christmas crush". The Age. Retrieved 2009-12-27.
  35. ^ "Australians asked to Twitter way to World Cup bid glory". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-11-20. 
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