Top News

FIFA inspects Australia for World Cup bid

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-27 17:21

CANBERRA - Australia's bid to win the rights to host the 2022 World Cup finals was being put to the test, local media reported on Tuesday.

A FIFA delegation is in Australia for a proposed venues in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The six-man delegation received a warm and traditional welcome when it arrived in Sydney on Monday morning on the start of its three-day examination of Australia's credentials to host arguably the biggest sporting event in the world.

Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis and Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy greeted the delegation on the steps of the Sydney's Opera House.

Related readings:  FIFA to inspect Australia next week for WCup bid  AFC boss puts dent in China's World Cup bid hopes  China may bid for 2026 World Cup, fans say no

Head of the FIFA delegation, Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who is also president of the Chilean Football Federation, said he was delighted to be in Australia.

"For us it is a real pleasure to be here in your beautiful country and we are sure that during this stay we will learn a lot about your people, your bid book and your ability to hold big events," Mayne-Nicholls told The Australian on Tuesday.

"We hope also that you will be in a position to ask us all the questions you need to resolve before we write the final report to the FIFA executive committee members. We will do our best to be as subjective as possible and record all of the questions and answers the right way."

The delegation was taken on an inspection of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) Stadium with New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally, 2000 Olympic champion Cathy Freeman and former Socceroo John Aloisi.

The government has committed 46 million dollars ($41.5 million) in funding and Ellis said: "I am looking forward to telling the FIFA delegation about the support the Australian government is giving to the bid, also the support of the opposition and state and territory governments and the Australian community."

Australia is the third stop on a tour of nine countries bidding for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting rights.

Australia is aiming only for 2022 and the successful nations for both events will be announced after a vote of the FIFA executive in Zurich on December 2.