Lowy counts down to the World Cup
"And the winner is Syd-en-ey." No-one will forget the famous words of Juan Antonio Samaranch when he announced that Sydney would host the 2000 Olympic Games.
And the winner is Syd-en-ey.
No-one will forget the famous words of Juan Antonio Samaranch when he announced that Sydney would host the 2000 Olympic Games.
And in 21 days, Australians will hold their breath again, as FIFA president Joseph Blatter stands in front of the world and announces who will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Australia is competing against three Asian nations — Japan, Qatar and South Korea — as well as the might of the US for the rights to host one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Everyone from actress Nicole Kidman to model Elle Macpherson and Formula One driver Mark Webber has jumped on board and thrown their support behind Australia’s bid. But the hard work has been done by the Football Federation Australia (FFA) board, including chairman Frank Lowy, deputy chairman Brian Schwartz and Phillip Wolanski.
According to Lowy, the bid has been one of the toughest challenges of his life.
“I know we have the best bid for 2022,” he said.
“I know we have convinced many of the FIFA executive committee that we have the best bid. But will we have the critical 13 votes out of 24 needed to win it?”
He said if Australia wins the rights to host the World Cup, it will transform the nation. “The potential to advance Australian football, business and cultural links in the region is enormous.
“To win, it will be a dream come true. It will deliver benefits for this generation and generations of Australians.”
Schwartz , who will be in Zurich with Lowy and Wolanski, said the entire board will keep working until the announcement on December 3 in Zurich. “There will be a lot of phone calls, meetings and we will be looking for any opportunities to put our case to the people that matter. We will not rest until right up to the decision.”
Schwartz added that he has met extraordinary people around the world during the bid and said Lowy’s efforts to bring the event to Australia had been monumental.
“It has been a unique opportunity and something we will all speak about for years to come.
“Imagine how our young people would aspire to play in a FIFA World Cup on home soil?”
Wolanski said Australia is the right country to host the World Cup.
“We are in a position to deliver to the mass audience of Asia as we sit among some of the biggest and fastest growing markets in the world,” Wolanski said.
“The FIFA World Cup has never been held in our country or continent, and to do so would be a massive boost for not only the region generally, but also of course for the growth and development of football.
“It would leave a lifelong legacy, something which is one of the critical factors in the considerations taken into account.”
If Australia successfully wins the rights to host the World Cup, games will be played in Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Geelong, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Townsville, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth.
With so much to look forward to, Lowy is optimistic. But he knows there’s still some way to go until the final whistle. “In my heart I really believe, but I’ve been around a long time and I know that it’s not over until the fat lady sings.”
FIFA president Joseph Blatter will announce who will host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups at 2am (AEST) on Friday, December 3.
JOSHUA LEVI
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