Frank Lowy gains a position on the prestigious
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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Frank Lowy gains a position on the prestigious
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I am sure glad Frank Lowy is on our side. Look at this world cup bid not looking as bad as some say.
Australian soccer boss Frank Lowy on FIFA world cup committee
Exclusive by Tom Smithies
September 19, 2008 12:00am
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AUSTRALIA'S hopes of hosting a World Cup have been given a huge shot in the arm with Frank Lowy securing a position on the prestigious body that oversees every tournament.
Not only will Australian soccer's commander in chief be directly involved in overseeing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and beyond, the committee also includes the majority of the 24 powerbrokers who decide where each tournament will be held.
With Australia advanced in planning a bid for 2018 or 2022, it gives the billionaire chairman of Football Federation Australia unprecedented access to the key men who run the game's global governing body, FIFA.
The Daily Telegraph yesterday obtained a list of the members from FIFA, which reveals that Lowy has been appointed for an initial period of four years.
Significantly, the committee, which meets periodically, does not include representatives from England or Russia - two of the biggest rivals for the 2018 prize.
Other prominent members include French legend and UEFA president Michel Platini, the hugely influential Caribbean chief Jack Warner, plus the head of the last World Cup - and a Cup-winning captain - Franz Beckenbauer.
While each tournament is run at arm's length from FIFA by a local organising committee, FIFA established the rolling World Cup committee to oversee the preparation and execution of them all. The committee also produces a definitive report after each World Cup, giving Lowy access to the lessons learned from South Africa before the FFA has to submit its bid.
Football Federation Australia last night declined to comment on the appointment before an official statement is released, possibly today.
The host of the 2018 World Cup - and possibly that of the 2022 tournament as well - will be announced by FIFA in three years and it's understood that all final bids have to be submitted by the end of 2010.
Before then though, the 24 members of FIFA's all-powerful executive committee will conduct regular visits to inspect the infrastructure and plans of each of the bidders - and 16 of those members will sit with Lowy on the World Cup committee.
FIFA is expected to decide later this year when the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments will be revealed, and a double announcement in 2011 is the likeliest outcome.
That would be hugely advantageous to Australia's hopes given an apparent desire within FIFA to give 2018 to an "established" soccer nation - with Australia then well-placed to be granted 2022.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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i wonder if it's too early to ask my wife for a few tickets for my 62 nd birthday present? 
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Tigers
More news and views on FL appointment
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/world-cup-no-pipe-dream-fifa-insider-frank-lowy-can-deliver-hostingrights/2008/09/21/1221331272795.html
World Cup no pipe dream FIFA insider Frank Lowy can deliver hosting rights
September 21, 2008
Make no mistake, the 16 executive members on the 24-member FIFA World Cup
Organising Committee surely don't know what they've done. When it was announced during the week that Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy is to serve on the committee for the next four years - with access to priceless World Cup intelligence and the game's global powerbrokers - it was tantamount to laying out the welcome mat for the wily fox outside the chicken coop.
You have to hand it to Lowy. He is a master diplomat and is so often a step ahead of the game. His admission to the corridors of power has massive ramifications for Australia's prospects of staging the World Cup. Indeed, it may be a pivotal moment in the sport's history in this country.
His decision to stage this year's FIFA Congress in Sydney was a masterstroke. While impressing the visiting delegates was one matter, gaining outcomes was quite another. And now we are starting to see how Lowy used the Congress to further Australia's influence in Zurich.
This may prove to be the most important step in delivering Lowy's ultimate gift to Australian football in the latter years of his life - hosting rights to the FIFA World Cup.
Such a momentous achievement would secure the future of football in Australia beyond the life of the chairman in two counts. First, the world's premier global tournament would undoubtedly increase support for the sport. The world's greatest footballers performing on the local stage and the influx of overseas football fans for the month-long carnival would enchant Australians like never before.
Second, the A-League would be catapulted into the position of national supremacy over the other football codes given the infrastructure and impetus provided by the World Cup.
For this dream to be realised, the next three years until 2011 - when the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are decided - will be crucial. As if Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek didn't need any more pressure. The national team must qualify for South Africa in 2010 to give Australia a face on the park at that tournament while Lowy feverishly and cunningly presses the flesh at the banquets and in the corporate boxes.
Qualification would allow the Socceroos to continue to build on the credibility they established in the last few years, further enhanced most recently by their win over the Netherlands and their super performance against Uzbekistan.
The question now is which tournament - 2018 or 2022 - is the most realistic goal. The FFA maintains it is on track to secure the hosting rights for 2018, and with Lowy now inside the seemingly impenetrable walls of FIFA and privy to the deal-making and cliques of the voting members, the message is clear: never bet against the FFA chairman delivering what he has promised and most desires.
Because while we digest this news with tremendous excitement, be assured Lowy will already be laying the groundwork for his next moves, three or four steps ahead of the game.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/world-cup-no-pipe-dream-fifa-insider-frank-lowy-can-deliver-hostingrights/2008/09/21/1221331272795.html
World Cup no pipe dream FIFA insider Frank Lowy can deliver hosting rights
September 21, 2008
Make no mistake, the 16 executive members on the 24-member FIFA World Cup
Organising Committee surely don't know what they've done. When it was announced during the week that Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy is to serve on the committee for the next four years - with access to priceless World Cup intelligence and the game's global powerbrokers - it was tantamount to laying out the welcome mat for the wily fox outside the chicken coop.
You have to hand it to Lowy. He is a master diplomat and is so often a step ahead of the game. His admission to the corridors of power has massive ramifications for Australia's prospects of staging the World Cup. Indeed, it may be a pivotal moment in the sport's history in this country.
His decision to stage this year's FIFA Congress in Sydney was a masterstroke. While impressing the visiting delegates was one matter, gaining outcomes was quite another. And now we are starting to see how Lowy used the Congress to further Australia's influence in Zurich.
This may prove to be the most important step in delivering Lowy's ultimate gift to Australian football in the latter years of his life - hosting rights to the FIFA World Cup.
Such a momentous achievement would secure the future of football in Australia beyond the life of the chairman in two counts. First, the world's premier global tournament would undoubtedly increase support for the sport. The world's greatest footballers performing on the local stage and the influx of overseas football fans for the month-long carnival would enchant Australians like never before.
Second, the A-League would be catapulted into the position of national supremacy over the other football codes given the infrastructure and impetus provided by the World Cup.
For this dream to be realised, the next three years until 2011 - when the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are decided - will be crucial. As if Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek didn't need any more pressure. The national team must qualify for South Africa in 2010 to give Australia a face on the park at that tournament while Lowy feverishly and cunningly presses the flesh at the banquets and in the corporate boxes.
Qualification would allow the Socceroos to continue to build on the credibility they established in the last few years, further enhanced most recently by their win over the Netherlands and their super performance against Uzbekistan.
The question now is which tournament - 2018 or 2022 - is the most realistic goal. The FFA maintains it is on track to secure the hosting rights for 2018, and with Lowy now inside the seemingly impenetrable walls of FIFA and privy to the deal-making and cliques of the voting members, the message is clear: never bet against the FFA chairman delivering what he has promised and most desires.
Because while we digest this news with tremendous excitement, be assured Lowy will already be laying the groundwork for his next moves, three or four steps ahead of the game.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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BB says other codes willing to support in News media today.
Frank seems hell bent on leaving football in the best shape he can
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24379942-5001023,00.html
FFA laying the WC
By Tom Smithies
September 22, 2008 12:00am
FOOTBALL Federation chief executive Ben Buckley has held top-level talks with the other football codes as he bids to get Australia's sporting landscape ready for a 2018 World Cup bid.
With the federal government digesting a report that predicts billions of dollars of economic benefits to the country from hosting a World Cup, Buckley dismissed the idea that the FFA might hedge its bets over the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
After The Daily Telegraph revealed on Friday that FFA chairman Frank Lowy had been appointed to FIFA's World Cup organising committee, Buckley insisted his and Lowy's focus was on a bid to bring it here in a decade's time - realistically giving them just two years to co-ordinate governments, other sports and tourism bodies.
He also refuted any suggestion that Australia might need a "dry run'' of a bid for 2018 before mounting a successful campaign. "We're 100 per cent focused on 2018 and that's where all our energies and efforts are being dedicated,'' Buckley said.
"We believe we will be a very strong competitor and ultimately we intend to be successful. The actual timeline hasn't been set out definitely by FIFA yet, but if previous scenarios are a guide we'll have to prepare the bid within the next two years.
``We've put a very strong submission to the government, and they're considering that at the moment.''
Buckley said that the other football codes are seemingly willing to support a bid despite the disruption it would cause through the ring-fencing of stadiums, because of the long-term benefits that would accrue.
"There have been preliminary discussions with the chief executives of all the sports that would be affected, and I believe there's in-principle support for advancing the bid,'' he said.
"Of course we'll have to work with them in more detail as to the impact it will have, but from what they've said so far they're supportive as they understand the benefits to all of Australia. We've already completed a detailed analysis on how other sports will be affected and how we can work with them to minimise the impact.''
A cost-benefit analysis of hosting a World Cup by consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers is believed to anticipate billions of dollars of extra economic activity.
Buckley declined to confirm what the analysis contained, but added: "The government have indicated very strong support in principle and we've submitted what funding we think will be required to mount a successful bid, plus a very detailed economic analysis which is with the Federal government now,'' he said.
Frank seems hell bent on leaving football in the best shape he can
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24379942-5001023,00.html
FFA laying the WC
By Tom Smithies
September 22, 2008 12:00am
FOOTBALL Federation chief executive Ben Buckley has held top-level talks with the other football codes as he bids to get Australia's sporting landscape ready for a 2018 World Cup bid.
With the federal government digesting a report that predicts billions of dollars of economic benefits to the country from hosting a World Cup, Buckley dismissed the idea that the FFA might hedge its bets over the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
After The Daily Telegraph revealed on Friday that FFA chairman Frank Lowy had been appointed to FIFA's World Cup organising committee, Buckley insisted his and Lowy's focus was on a bid to bring it here in a decade's time - realistically giving them just two years to co-ordinate governments, other sports and tourism bodies.
He also refuted any suggestion that Australia might need a "dry run'' of a bid for 2018 before mounting a successful campaign. "We're 100 per cent focused on 2018 and that's where all our energies and efforts are being dedicated,'' Buckley said.
"We believe we will be a very strong competitor and ultimately we intend to be successful. The actual timeline hasn't been set out definitely by FIFA yet, but if previous scenarios are a guide we'll have to prepare the bid within the next two years.
``We've put a very strong submission to the government, and they're considering that at the moment.''
Buckley said that the other football codes are seemingly willing to support a bid despite the disruption it would cause through the ring-fencing of stadiums, because of the long-term benefits that would accrue.
"There have been preliminary discussions with the chief executives of all the sports that would be affected, and I believe there's in-principle support for advancing the bid,'' he said.
"Of course we'll have to work with them in more detail as to the impact it will have, but from what they've said so far they're supportive as they understand the benefits to all of Australia. We've already completed a detailed analysis on how other sports will be affected and how we can work with them to minimise the impact.''
A cost-benefit analysis of hosting a World Cup by consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers is believed to anticipate billions of dollars of extra economic activity.
Buckley declined to confirm what the analysis contained, but added: "The government have indicated very strong support in principle and we've submitted what funding we think will be required to mount a successful bid, plus a very detailed economic analysis which is with the Federal government now,'' he said.
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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