To the NZ Media

To the NZ Media

Mods I am dismayed at the NZ media�s treatment pertaining to the AFC and have written a very brief overview of my thoughts plus provided a number of links for any NZ journalist willing to do some research  and report on the issue at hand (Mods I hope you don�t mind as I am Australian and am having a go at NZ media). Maybe this forum  address can be forwarded on to anyone you think may use it.

 

To the NZ media.. NZ Football is under challenge from Asia, in the main you have seen fit to largely ignore this story amazes me.

 

Never before has a single sporting organisation in NZ had the potential to bring in so much money and so much good will as the Wellington Phoenix Football club.

 

I accept that NZ is a Rugby Union country I understand that yours sports departments are run by rugby union folk . What I find staggering is the lack of research and academic vigour of the NZ media to look at this in any way at all at this story. Never mind from an economic impact.

 

Rupert Murdoch in the Boyer lectures brilliantly says how important Asia is to the world and our region in particular. He says the Asian middle class with 25 years will be 2 to 3 billion people.

 

Lets do a small amount of economic modelling as a start ..� Assume middle class is $ 50, 000 NZ�, then take the middle ground of 2.5 billion.

 

Now assume the NZ of the $ 50, 000.00 can get .01cents so small a percentage as to be almost no existent, but it equals 25 million dollars 10 cents is 250, 000, 50 cents is 1.25 billion. Then there is what economist call the multiplier effect in that for every new dollar coming in it circulates within the economy creating an effect of three times. Thus for every billion coming in it creates another 3 billion of income.

 

As an aside at this point if the Wellington Phoenix Football club where to make it to the finals of the ACL they would have had even on today�s audience figures over 1 billion viewers would have watched. I admit many in the billion would have watched more than once but it is still a massive figure.

 

Where do I start well I have just put some links in and hopefully someone will pick this story up and run with it. To ignore this is at best negligent from NZ media. Any one who wishes to discuss this with me can PM through the site.

 

I will start for you by providing links to the Boyer Lectures delivered by Rupert Murdoch read them and you will get some idea how important Asia is.

 

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2397951.htm

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2397948.htm

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2397947.htm

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2397940.htm

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2397933.htm

 

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2008/2389741.htm

 

 

The Asia Football Confederation �.. look at their vision statements, the number of countries. This will provide any researcher with the size of the AFC. Further the AFC hope to be bigger than football in Europe within 30 years big call but given the expected shifts in economic buying power more than likely true.

http://www.the-afc.com/eng/index.jsp.html

These links show how much research is going in to developing football a couple of interesting research papers from India. There are heaps more but understand the effort going into football is huge

http://www.kolkatafootball.com/new_article.html 

http://www.kolkatafootball.com/shaji_prabhakaran_article3.html

What Asian Football thinks of Australia.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/bin-hammam-sings-aussie-praises-121778/

 

The following links provide Government and business views of football in Australia by no means all but enough to see that Australia sees the world these days increasingly through Asia eyes. .

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=24950 

 

 

http://www.melbournevictory.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46374

 

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24743140-5013404,00.html

http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/exporters-hope-socceroos-will-kick-open-new-markets/2008/06/05/1212259004789.html 

http://www.austrade.gov.au/socceroos-world-cup-qualifiers-to-help-middle-east-discover-australian-business-potential/default.aspx

http://www.austrade.gov.au/Football-Fever-the-economic-benefits-of-the-Socceroos/default.aspx

 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/bend-it-like-kevin/2008/06/13/1213321624649.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

If you have any doubt of  the size of the investment in Australian by clubs in football here is just one example.

 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/mariners-are-poor-cousins-no-more/2008/12/07/1228584656536.html

 

Where football is going in Australia according to some forecasters again interesting reading but a very positive outlook .

 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/brave-new-world/2008/12/02/1227980018039.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/soccer/get-this-right-and-there-might-be-no-stopping-us/2008/12/02/1227980018036.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

Finally the actual position of football from FFA annual reports.

 

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem&id=25108

 

http://www.a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00000975-source.pdf

 

 

 

 

Midfielder2008-12-09 18:15:39

  eeeerrghgaaannnnn,  toooo long , my head sore    

While I certainly cannot be assed reading through all that I would point out a key differnce and commercial advantage that Australia has. The Socceroos, don't think for a minute that if the Socceroos weren't semi decent would any of the opportunities be available that you seem to believe are. They are a marketable commodity in Australia, quite simply NZ Football is not.

Im also of the opinion that Cricket has just as much ability to tap into that Asian market purely because of the size and clout of India these days.

But personally I think for what its worth the government puts money in the right places to use our sporting assets as a marketable commodity worldwide. Like it or not, the Rugby World Cup will be massive in NZ in 2011 and the Americas Cup is also worth big money to this country as the related industries that benefit purely from our credibility as a yachting nation do very well thank you

Oska & Bopman

 

Oska, it would take a very long time to read all the links , but its not aimed at most on this site its aimed at any journalist in NZ wanting to take on the WPFC story and its potential impack on NZ.

 

Bopman

 

Thanks for your reply and I accept what you say.. But the article is not about the NZ market nor about the All Whites.

 

Its about the Asian market, did you know for instance that in Singapore / Indonesia / Malaysia that the A-League is broadcast live and has a reasonable audience. Also in Singapore merchants are reporting almost as many sales in A-League gear as EPL gear.

 

If WPFC qualified for the Asian Club Champion matches then affect would be huge in audience and in creating awareness of both Wellington & NZ in and across parts of Asian & the Middle East you do not currently reach.

 

Bopman you points on rugby and yachting I accept, however these things are not mutually exclusive in that Rugby, Yachting & Football can all be supported without one doing damage to the other or one relying on the other.

Midfielder2008-12-10 10:43:32

Can we even qualify for the ACL? Even if we win we aren't considered an Australian team, so cannot enter.

FIFA should look at merging Oceania and Asia in to one Confederation (they basically already do it with the world club cup), similar to CONCACAF.

My understanding is you can be part of the ACL once you are accepted as an Australian team.

Let me pose this question to you Midfielder, if Australia had bombed at the world cup or low and behold hadn't qualified do you think people in Singapore and Indonesia would be watching the A-League? Id like to see the stats on sales of A-League gear being close to EPL.

Bopman

You spot with your observation that only recent strong performances by the Socceroos has Singapore & Indonesia watching ... but they are and in the immediate future will continue to watch unless the Socceros suddenly loose form but we are 9 from 9 points in the qualifying stage and one win should see us make it to the 2010 world cup, a win a draw for sure with three home games and one away game , anything can happen but I am more confident of making it than I ever have been before.

So given WPFC is in the A-League you will get noticed and god forbid should you get one of the ACL places you would be riding in to heaps of coverage on the back of the Socceroos (Kiwi revenge for the underarm maybe).

Given you appear to be in the A-league if this article is correct in the SMH today then you need more than ever media support to place yourselves in a strong position .

Part of wide ranging  Frank Lowy Interview only copied the AFC & Nix parts(also in another thread) http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7791&PN=13
http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/regrets-i-have-none--restructure-puts-sydney-fc-in-safe-handssays-lowy/2008/12/09/1228584839557.html



MC: What is the future for Wellington Phoenix after the recent statements from [Asian Football Confederation president] Mohamed Bin Hammam, who said the AFC would not support the club staying in the league past 2011?

FL: I hear him loud and clear. We don't want to lose them if we can.

MC: Do you personally support Wellington staying in the league?

FL: Look, we have to comply with the AFC rules. Wellington may be able to play in Wellington, but they have to comply with the regulations, which means they will have to have a majority of Australian players. Another three or four players and they are there, no?

MC: Is there a way out of this for the Phoenix?

FL: There is two-and-a-half more years. A lot can happen in that time. We will do our best to keep them in.

Why do you honestly care so much about the plight of the Phoenix? Seriously? Just a question i honestly think your a bit obsessed with NZ football. You planning any 120 page dossiers on us anytime soon?

What's wrong with that?
Midfielder is rather verbose, but he is a kiwi, so why not?

Midfielder, you do read other people's threads, as well as starting your own incessantly, right?
;-)

You might like this one:
http://yellowfever.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7791&PN=14
Bevan2008-12-10 23:38:39

The annoying thing is that it is actually in AFC's interest to absorb the OFC, but being administrators rather than astute marketing people they probably don't understand this.

I'm sure that in some ways some parts opf asia could see the benefits and overlook the costs inherent on picking up many of the poorest FA's in the world but the decisions won't be made on that. 

The decisions will be made on the fact that bin Hammen wants the FIFA presidency and currently the 11 votes in oceania are firmly in Sepp and Co's pocket.  They don't want a bin Hammen coup and tying eleven potential votes for Blatter (or Platini or de Kaiser) to bin Hammen's coat tails will never be approved by FIFA, let alone the OFC powerbrokers.

Be gentle with Midfielder. He'll be feeling delicate...

Well Midfielder even though I think you talk an utter load of bollocks I do wish you a very happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Midfielder!

(If you wish to thank us for the birthday wishes, please try to keep it to 100 words or less )

No no, let's not go for the simple lowest common denominator.  These issues are the absolute basis for the future of the phoenix and also NZF.  He is right, we need someone to pickup this story and run with it because clearly we aren't going to get any backing from the FFA.  We have to make this an issue for FIFA, that's the only way I can see a positive outcome.  FIFA goes over bin hamman's head and we get our AFC licence extended.  We may not be able to play in the ACL but we can continue in the A_League with kiwi players.  We need the OFC on our side.  We need NZF shouting from the roof tops.  We need the big game players right now to be working the corridors of football power.  Even government involvement. james dean2008-12-12 03:23:30

Thanks for the Birthday wishes ... will attempt to keep future posts to under 10, 000 words ... remember I said try .. not that I will.

That's a good start Midfielder. And a belated happy birthday to you too.

For the record if it helps in any way if a journalist is looking at this from a political point of view within FIFA below is a list of FIFA's Excutive Committee. Also you can see that MHB is on the committee.

FIFA'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

President

Sepp Blatter (Switzerland)

Senior vice-president

Julio Grondona (Argentina)

Vice-presidents

Issa Hayatou (Cameroon)

Mong Joon Chung (Korea Republic)

Jack Warner (Trinidad & Tobago)

Angel Maria Villar Llona (Spain)

Michael Platini (France)

Reynald Temarii (Tahiti)

Geoff Thompson (England)

Members

Michel D'Hooghe (Belgium)

Ricardo Terra Teixeira (Brazil)

Mohamed bin Hammam (Qatar)

Senes Erzik (Turkey)

Chuck Blazer (USA)

Worawi Makudi (Thailand)

Nicolas Leoz (Paraguay)

Viacheslav Koloskov (Russia)

Junji Ogura (Japan)

Skim Chiboub (Tunisia)

Amos Adamu (Nigeria)

Marios Lefterakis (Cyprus)

Jacques Anouma (Ivory Coast)

Franz Beckenbauer  (Germany)

Rafael Salguero (Guatemala)

Midfielder2008-12-16 16:28:27

Normally wouldn't every confederation head be in the FIFA executive committee (although Oceania is represented by Reynald Temarii not Tai Nicolas)? From memory the AFC has a rediculously large executive committee because there is a member from every country in there.

Despite the ribbing Midfielder gets, he often brings up relevant points of view. NZ's often tend to be more shy retiring types. We don't like to make a fuss. But in this case it is too important to let this drift. We need to vigourously push and lobby and wheel and deal otherwise we will be screwed.

I will attempt to reduce this to as simple as I can.

 

What you have to bargain with.. first offer Oceania automatic qualifying positions in all FIFA tournaments. Second guarantee Asia a defacto vote on all policy matters except where they may directly affect Oceania.

 

What you want is a number of players in Oceania and nominated by Oceania each year that are not included as an imported player within the AFC. This would allow WPFC to still have a large number of Kiwis. Second for the automatic qualifying position given above  a right for the winner Oceania to play in the Asian qualifying for FIFA tournaments from the last say 26 in Asia.

 

You need to recognise what you have to bargain with and also what is possible to ask for.  AFC does not want the OFC ... FIFA will not force them.  OFC and those in power do not want to lose their jobs so they are not going to ask FIFA to kick them out.

 

The above is deliverable and achievable within two years, will satisfy most of the outcomes WPFS & NZF want but it needs support from NZF, NZ media, NZ government, TBH Oceania is from a FIFA stance not worth a pinch of sh*t ... so give both FIFA & OFC something they want .... but in doing that get what you want.

 

Hopefully there is a journalist out there taking all this on board.

OFC's executive vote and national votes are closely aligned to clan Blatter, FIFA are not about to let it become aligned to Bin Hamman and his future attempts to gain the FIFA presidency.

YF plus the journos 

Hmmmmmmmm ... I have questioned whether I should post this as sometimes some see my comments not in the light in which they are meant.

However I think it�s to important not to comment and I before some wish to blast me I am reminded that sometimes to be blunt is better than beating around the bush. Accordingly in the light of the greater good and I am actually on your side here we go.

MBH wants his way, SB wants his way, Frank Lowy wants what is best for Australian Football. Frank Lowy gave his word to help NZ football and he will do all he can to keep his word. Australian Football needs Asia, ... Asia is pays all the bills by bringing in government, business, and investors no Asia none of the aforementioned.

The Nix need things done for them to succeed, the main thing is to have NZ players granted exemptions to play for the Nix.

To give FL any chance of pulling off exemptions you want he needs to be able to show MBH the growth in NZ football between now and 2010 or 2011.

Hmmmmmm... dilemma ... how when NZF seem almost incapable of hitting any runs.. I have mentioned before you can trade votes and places in FIFA tournaments before so I will refer you to my prior thoughts on this  .... BUT this is the biggie ... the daddy of the biggie and I have not read anywhere and understanding of what is being offered.

Further that this is a TEST  for NZF and to a lesser extent the Nix.

The world cup is estimated to bring between 1.25 and 2 million visitors and somewhere 6.5 and 9 billion Australian dollars to Australia. There will be some overflow to NZ BUT IF you are involved in the WC by having training facilities the overflow will be much greater.

Lets pick say the lower figure of 6.5 billion dollars, assume you do nothing Asia via MBN ensures you get minimum exposure and you get say 5% overflow or 325 million dollars. Now assume you are part of the world cup and have four teams training there, Auckland, Wellie, Christchurch and Whangeria. The Bay of Islands shown all around the world. The overflow jumps to say 20% you now get 1.3 billion dollars and all the repeat business that will come as well as the business connections.

Thus you get an extra billion dollars and for what SFA actually maybe upgrade some training fields, do you honestly believe we don�t have the training facilities in Australia.

So here is the test, what do the Nix and NZF bring to the A-league, ..Potential mainly .. actual results smallish to date. Media in NZ behind netball and above hockey, government and business connections ... very few ... home crowds one goodish year to date .. away crowds and Australian TV ratings the lowest ...

The test for you is to increase everything and prove you are worth the fight if an extra billion dollars plus the flow on affects for years after and the business connections  cannot get better media and lift  footballs profile in NZ. If you can FL can say to MBH well look at what they have done they are worth it ... do nothing and MBH says FL what are you fighting so hard for these losers for ....

Getting it the training facilities is for NZF to lift football profile in NZ and how the fark could you not .. this is your test to see if you are worth the fight.  

Midfielder2009-01-07 23:59:03

Great Wall of Text hits you several times for 4000 damage
You push the back button on the browser

Hopefully there is a media person out there putting something together on Australia and Asia frpm a Football stance.

Just to add a little more to your research here are a couple of links by Jesse Fink on TWG talking to Les Murry.

The first is about Asia and using players from Asia and goes for about 8 min, the second is about a particular Asian coach who wants to coach in the A=League league .. Both are critical of FFA however what is important is to understand how football media people are starting to think like.

Interestingly the Asia coach believes the A-League could become the top league across all of Asia  and the Middle East.

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http://player.sbs.com.au/twg#/twg_08/ExpertView/ExpertView/playlist/SHOOTOUT-Asian-market/

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http://player.sbs.com.au/twg#/twg_08/ExpertView/ExpertView/playlist/SHOOTOUT-Get-Ghotbi/

 


Midfielder2009-01-18 12:48:20

It looks like that cultivation process has started -: Will no doubt go down well in Canberra and  with business wishing to do business in Asia as well.

So if you are out there NZ reporter this will show how important Australian Football rates Asia you can see Frank Lowy finger prints all over this ... more importantly through it will provide Australian Business & Government an ability to talk to their counter parts at a neutral event..

http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168525904.html


Australian boost for Vision Asia KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) is set to sponsor Vision Asia in a major boost for AFC�s ambitious continental development programme.

An FFA delegation, led by Head of National Teams & Football Development John Boultbee, was in AFC House on Friday to discuss details with AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam and the Vision Asia team.

�We want to be a good member of the AFC and contribute to Vision Asia in the best way that we can,� Boultbee told the-afc.com on Friday.

�We want to make a financial contribution and also a contribution in kind with equipment, expertise and competition opportunities.�

Boultbee said Vision Asia provides the perfect platform from which Australia can serve the needs of Member Associations that require assistance when it comes to developing football in their respective countries.

AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said Australia has plenty of football experience and can support the AFC in their development efforts around Asia.

�Vision Asia has made great strides since it was started more than five years ago and, with Australia eager to get involved in a significant way, it can only get stronger and enhance the benefits for those countries who want to be part of this programme,� said Bin Hammam.

Vision Asia was launched by Bin Hammam in 2003 and is aimed at lifting the standards of football at all levels throughout Asia.

Associations currently under the Vision Asia fold are: Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Northern Mariana Islands, Oman, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.




Midfielder2009-01-31 02:51:18

Two posts in one day wow... this one should SCREAM at the NZ government and media in general the importance of football in Asia.

The university of NSW is trying to get funds to run a course in Football by getting the best minds in Asia... Craig Foster is helping as well ... There must be someone there wanting to write that award winning article or [produce that award winning programe..

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/foster-believes-academy-will-win-asian-hearts-by-training-minds/2009/02/14/1234028348305.html

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FORMER Socceroo Craig Foster and a NSW university want to develop the nation's first football education and training centre, designed to entice the best sporting minds from the Asia region.

The SBS sports commentator and The Sun-Herald's football columnist believes the centre will reap the benefits of Australia's participation in the 46-member Asian Football Confederation, which includes parts of the Middle East and Oceanic countries.

The Rudd Government, which is financially supporting Australia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup, is offering its encouragement. Federal Labor MP Janelle Saffin was appointed to head a regional steering committee on Friday.

Under the proposal, the centre will target students from the confederation region to study football administration and coaching up to a masters level at Southern Cross University in Lismore, as well as hosting training camps and tournaments, elite matches, coaching and education seminars for young footballers from overseas and regional Australia.

Foster said Australia was well placed to provide a training and tertiary-level education centre to service a cashed-up Asian market wanting to match Europe and South America on and off the pitch.

"Australia wants to be the sole bidder for the World Cup," said Foster, who grew up in Lismore and has played in Asia. "Football Federation Australia is on the market for support from the member Asian countries. One of the areas we can lend support is education.

"We are recognised as being the finest leaders in sporting administration in the world. What I want to see is Australia being recognised as providing the finest football administrators and coaches and players."

Midfielder2009-02-15 12:38:54

LOLZ @ Craig Foster!

Foster  

To hard to resist this posting as the growing relationship between Asia &  Australia is starting to gather pace at all levels of government / business see Australia's future in Asia.... as I have posted on this thread a number of times.  Just a couple of bits of mega / massive / news economic news ... Remember Government & Business see football as the way to talk and meet culturally.

The first is a free trade agreement with Indonesia (remember Indonesia has over 200 million people and is closer to Australia than NZ) The second is a visit to Aust / NZ & Indonesia by South Korean president Mr Lee ... but the part that is hugely important is   this bit "  "President Lee is also scheduled to announce the official start of negotiations for an FTA with Australia while on a state visit there," the press release said.

I guess my point is Asia and especially South East Asia is forming into something of a trading block not that dissimilar to the EEC ... NZ needs to get in before it is left out ... football is NZ entry into the informal talks and government meeting where your government can push your case for inclusion... No other institution or organisation in NZ can do this better than football.

So hopefully to that NZ media person this is making somewhat of an impact.


 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=753873

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/18/content_10841459.htm



  Print

    SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak will visit Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia in March, the South Korean Presidential Office said Wednesday.

    The president will leave for Auckland, New Zealand, on March 2 for a two-day visit.

    "President Lee and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key are set to announce the start of negotiations for a free trade agreement to help improve economic relations between the two countries, and will seek ways to cooperate in developing renewable and bio energy," the Presidential Office said at a press release.

    "President Lee is also scheduled to announce the official start of negotiations for an FTA with Australia while on a state visit there," the press release said.

    Lee's seven-day tour will end in Jakarta, where he will hold official talks with his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on closer bilateral cooperation.

    "The two heads of state will also discuss ways to cooperate in promoting trade and investment and in countering the global financial crisis. In addition, they will also discuss regional issues, such as ways to increase cooperation between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," the Presidential Office said.

    Lee is expected to discuss economic cooperation of G-20 summit with Australian and Indonesian leaders, as their nations are also members of the G-20 summit, during his tour, said a spokeswoman for Lee.

    Leaders of members of the G-20 summit is scheduled to hold a new round of meeting in London in April.

Midfielder2009-02-21 16:28:14

So hang on let me get this straight, Australia and South Korea are talking about a free trade deal because of Football?...... Im not to sure what you are trying to say with that last bit.
NZ and India are looking at starting to talk about an FTA, is that because we have a cricket series starting next week? Maybe we should cosy up more to the BCCI.....
Sports an international language I will give you that but it doesn't drive trade and economic policy

No, but it's a great opportunity to wine and dine prospective partners.

"Oi! Australia! Give us a FTA!"
"Rack off Korea, we're busy"

vs.

"Oi! Australia! Let's rip the lid off a few tinnies and watch the footy!"
"Bloody oath mate, ripper idea!"
(Later in the corporate lounge)
"While we're here, we'd like to propose an FTA"
"Sure thing mate, what you got in mind?"

Came across this today and the link has more stuff on it than the Asian players numbers but I have copied the Asian player numbers.... over 85 million players does this not say something in that people playing in registered park teams in Asia is over 85 million plus the street football. Midfielder2009-03-17 17:38:00

Asia is the continent with the most people, so I guess it makes sense.

Frank Lowy speech at the national press club about our chances for the WC bid... So glad we have Frank on our side ...

Look through this to all the talk about Asia it's size and remember how much effort is being made by the Commonwealth Government to assist Football... it's quite long but it was to the national press club in Canberra of which there are only a handful made each year.

http://nearpost.blogspot.com/2009/06/frank-lowy-inspiration.html

Address by Mr Frank Lowy AC
Chairman, Football Federation of Australia
National Press Club, Canberra
15 June 2009

Ken Randall, President of the National Press Club,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you for the invitation to address you today.

I�ve never faced the nation�s media en masse like this before, and I must say that contrary to your reputation, you all look friendly enough!

First - it�s really been a big week for football.

I�m ecstatic that the Socceroos qualified for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa, just the second time we�ve qualified since 1974.

The last time we qualified in 2005 we did it by the skin of our teeth � in a penalty shoot-out in the last game of the last qualifying round. In fact, we were the last team in the world to qualify.

Now, with one game to go against Japan this week, we are on top of our group, winning five games and drawing two; scoring 10 goals with seven clean sheets � that�s seven games with no goals against.

That says a lot about how far we�ve come. The Socceroos and coach Pim Verbeek deserve enormous recognition for that.

Yesterday we officially launched Australia�s bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
We have embarked on a Herculean task. Victory would fulfil our wildest dreams.

But even the worst outcome � failing to win either � unthinkable though it is, would still leave a legacy that makes embarking on this journey worthwhile: certainly for the game of football in Australia, but also for the wider community.

So we enter the battle confidently, and we enter it to win; but we enter it mindful that we will need to wrest every vote from very powerful, well qualified nations whose ambition to host the World Cup is every bit as fierce as ours.

2
Let me answer the naysayers upfront and get that out of the way.

There are some who say we are small fry in world football; that Australia is too far away; that the 2018 World Cup must return to Europe after South Africa next year and Brazil in 2014.

There are some who say that the tremendous resources and energy required to mount the campaign is a distraction from more urgent tasks at home. That we should focus instead on developing the grassroots, and nurturing the new national A-League competition and so on.

These are all valid points, and believe me we have weighed them carefully. And I have an answer to each of them.

But the short answer to all the questions about why we should be bidding for the World Cup now is the same answer I gave a few years ago to the naysayers who said football was destined to remain the laughing stock of Australian sport.

When I was asked to become Chairman of FFA in 2003 my approach was simple.

Football is the world game.

It is actively followed by 5 billion people on every continent.

FIFA has more member countries than the United Nations. FIFA has 208 and the UN has 192.
Football has more grassroots support in Australia than any other sporting code.

Quite simply, it was time for football in Australia to lift up its head and start thinking and behaving as though it was part of the world game.

Boldness was called for.

Not arrogance, because arrogance in sport, as in most walks of life, is ultimately self-defeating.

But football needed to be bold, to demonstrate a bit of flair and optimism and belief in itself.
There were certainly good reasons why Australian football had languished for so long, but there was no good reason why it should languish forever.

So this was the philosophy I have tried to bring to the revival of football in Australia generally.

3
And you have seen the results. The ethnic rivalries have gone. Families now make up the majority of spectators. Sponsorship is strong. Football is now respected as one of Australia�s mainstream sporting codes. And the Socceroos are, again, among the 32 nations of the World to participate in the FIFA World Cup.

The philosophy that underpinned the revival of football at a local level is the same that motivates our World Cup bid.

Being timid in world football gets you nowhere, and taking the easy option of standing on the sidelines while the rest of the world goes for the big prizes, is never going to be an option.
In any case, standing on the sidelines is not in my DNA.

For those not familiar with the World Cup process, let me outline the challenge ahead.


The FIFA World Cup consists of two parts:

1.
The qualification phase involving all member nations � which Australia will finish this Wednesday with a match against Japan in Melbourne; and,
2.
The finals involving 32 teams after the qualification phase is complete � this event is the FIFA World Cup.

The decision on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be made in December 2010.
This is the first time that a decision for two World Cups will be made at the same time.

We have already been working on this for the last 12 months and we have another 18 months to continue to inform, impress, influence and inspire the 24 men of the FIFA Executive Committee who make the decision.

To win it, we require 13 votes.

Our competitors are all worthy in different ways; and all, except perhaps two, can mount a reasonable case.

They are: England; Spain & Portugal; Belgium & Netherlands; Russia; Qatar; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Mexico and the United States. (By the way, Japan & Korea co-hosted the 2002 World Cup).

The first question we have to answer for FIFA is: �Why Asia?�

4
For a start, since the World Cup began 80 years ago, the Asia Football Confederation, has hosted the World Cup just once before, in 2002. The Oceania Football Confederation has never hosted it.

In fact, Australia is the only continent not to have hosted it.
But there is a much bigger point to be made.
The weight of the world is with Asia.

Asia�s political power is rising tremendously. Global institutions like the UN, the IMF and others are grappling with how to deal with this fact of life.

The wealth of Asia continues to grow. It is where the customers are � for goods and services; and for football.

In fact, the biggest television audience for the World Cup, by far, lies in Asia, not Europe or America.

And in 2014 Asia will reach a historic tipping point.

According to IATA, from that date there will be more people flying in Asia than in Europe or America.

And Europe was conquered long ago.
Another World Cup in Europe would undoubtedly be successful.
It would draw crowds and it would be professionally run.

But it is a mature market � it is already overflowing with the highest quality football on a weekly basis.

There are the premier leagues of each nation; the UEFA Champions League; the Europa Cup; and more.

The World Cup in Europe is like putting a cherry on top of a gigantic chocolate cake.
And the United States, even under the rosiest scenarios, will remain problematic for football given the unique characteristics of that market and the entrenched competition from other sports.

So in making a decision for 2018 and 2022 FIFA has an historic opportunity to �go for growth� and turbo charge the process already underway in Asia.

And if FIFA agrees with this logic, the next question is �Why Australia?�

I don�t want to spend too much time today preaching to the converted. I trust you all agree Australia would make a splendid World Cup host.

5
But let me briefly make the case for Australia, above and beyond the powerful case I�ve just made for Asia:

1.
We are a safe pair of hands. We do these big events very well, and the world knows it. The description of the Sydney Olympics as �the best games ever� still resonates not because it was great rhetoric, but because it was true.

The organisation, logistics, the feeling and spirit of Sydney 2000 remains the high water mark for international sporting events.

The world still fondly remembers the 40,000 volunteers who helped make the Games such a success. That spirit would be on display again, not just in Sydney, but right across Australia.
Not even our fiercest competitors doubt our capacity to deliver a thoroughly professional, well-organised World Cup.

2.
We have unstinting support from all levels of government to mount a genuine national bid. This is a critically important factor for FIFA who understand that while the football organisation itself, the FFA, runs the bid, the venture can only succeed with total support from government.

From the outset the Prime Minister has provided unequivocal support, and his personal involvement, including a direct appeal to delegates at last year�s FIFA Congress in Sydney, has made a huge impact. That support was echoed at our official launch of the bid yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull. And all State Governments through the COAG process have committed themselves to the national effort.

3.
We can deliver the infrastructure. FIFA has stringent technical requirements which must be met. For the 2018 and 2022 bids, we have been advised that we must have:

� A minimum of 12 stadia, at least two of which must hold 80,000 fans
� 10 stadia which must hold a minimum of 45,000 fans
�Training facilities for 32 teams; and,
� Five-star accommodation for a minimum of four teams, the FIFA organisation and match officials in every host city.

While the existing stadia we have, especially the two big ones in the MCG in Melbourne and ANZ Stadium in Sydney, are world-class it is clear that a significant investment in new and existing stadia will be needed to meet the FIFA requirements.
FFA has done the homework to identify these opportunities and there are a number of options under consideration ranging from

6
reconfiguration of existing stadia through to new purpose-built stadia which can be adapted for ongoing use after the World Cup.

Our timeline for submitting the bid is May 2010 and our decisions on host cities and host stadia needs to be finalised by the end of this year.

So there is obviously much to be done between now and then to co-ordinate this major investment in critical infrastructure, and we are in deep discussion with Federal and State Governments.

But remember, for the purpose of the bid there need only be a commitment for the investment. The actual investment would of course only proceed if we were to win the right to host one of the two World Cups on offer.

4.
Weather, distance and time zones. The Australian climate delivers perfect football weather in June and July. In many northern hemisphere World Cups the temperatures have been stifling, making life difficult on pitch for the players and off pitch for the spectators.

Too much is made of our so-called geographic isolation and time zone differences.
Firstly, we think the 1 billion viewers in China, and the billions in India, Japan, Korea, and South East Asia, will appreciate being close to our time zone.

Secondly, with careful attention to match scheduling, both in timing and location around Australia, we are confident we can still accommodate the European audience for all key matches.

5.
Goodwill and interest in Australia. I don�t want to overstate this point because every nation will claim for itself some special status one way or the other. But I genuinely believe it is a strong point in our favour.

Australia has generated enormous goodwill in world football over the past few years, especially during the last World Cup in Germany. The Socceroos excited everyone. At every match, if you were a neutral supporter invariably you ended up cheering on the Socceroos. We played a fresh, exciting brand of football which was hard but fair, and we shook up some of the best teams in the world. And the Aussie fans in Germany were great ambassadors - their enthusiasm and friendliness was applauded by football officials, and the general public.

And it�s worth noting that in terms of ticket sales to the 2006 World Cup, Australians ranked 5th in the world � a remarkable fact given our relatively small population.

I�m sure you all recall how we lost in the dying seconds to Italy, who went on to win the World Cup. I must tell you I was distraught for days

7
afterwards. But once I got over the loss I could take some comfort from the fact that we had announced ourselves on the world stage, and that we could leverage that performance at home and abroad.

The memory might have faded a little for some of you. But our journey to the 2006 World Cup ignited an interest in football that took Australia by storm. Our penalty goal shootout against Uruguay in 2005, and then the excitement of Germany, generated scenes here at home that went around the world, and it has become part of Australian sporting folklore.

I do believe that goodwill towards Australia exists, and that people from around the world have a genuine interest in Australia and in visiting here.

6.
Respect for our achievements

It is not a coincidence that senior Members of the FFA have been recognised by FIFA and the AFC, and are now serving on key Committees of regional and World football. We have the first Australian to ever become a Member � even a Vice President � of the Asian Football Confederation�s Executive Committee, and I was appointed a member on the FIFA World Cup Committee.

These points are the essence of our appeal to the FIFA Executive Committee and each one is backed up by a lot more detail than I can share with you today.

There is also a raft of benefits that will flow to Australia if we are successful, and which help justify the large investment we are asking of the nation.
Those who don�t follow football sometimes fail to comprehend the sheer scale of the World Cup.

It totally dwarfs all other major sporting events and even out-rivals the Olympics.
We commissioned Price WaterhouseCoopers to undertake an economic impact analysis of hosting the World Cup and the Confederations Cup which is a smaller tournament played in the preceding year to the World Cup itself.

A joint PWC/Monash University study estimated the impact as a $5.3 billion increase in GDP and a cumulative employment effect of 74,000 jobs.

It delivers 12 times the GDP impact of the Formula One and Australian Tennis Open combined.

It delivers 15 times the employment impact of those two events.
The flow-on tourism potential is obvious, not just to our cities, but to regions that otherwise wouldn�t get this sort of intense international exposure.

8
I don�t think I need to spend too much time on what hosting the World Cup would do for the game in Australia � it would be like injecting high octane fuel into game development here.
Generations of new talent would be inspired by the event and it would provide a platform for growth for decades to come.

What I would like to talk about briefly now is what it would do for Australia beyond the economic impact and the legacy of new and much needed infrastructure.
What it would do for Australia in the world, but especially in Asia.

I spoke about Asia earlier � it is where our future lies, economically and in football.
This is why I worked so hard to move Australia from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.

Being in the AFC gives us more games, against better teams, bigger audiences and of course, more revenue.

It involves not just the Socceroos, but A-League clubs, and over time our entire football community will develop links in one way or another with Asia.

And the benefits flow both ways.

Asia did not invite us in because they had 45 members and thought they�d like 46.
Far from it.

We are there because we can add value to Asia. Our teams can help raise the standard.
Australia has highly developed facilities and training programs that can be shared with developing football countries in the region.

But beyond all that, what excites me most about Australian football is what it can do for the country as a whole.

It is the same thing that motivated me to establish the Lowy Institute for International Policy, which I am pleased to say, is making a serious contribution to the discussion about Australia�s place in the world.

I have worked hard over the past six years to reconnect us with the world football community � from FIFA President Sepp Blatter, through to people trying to build a pitch in the Solomon Islands, and everyone in between.

9
If all this activity has told me anything, it is that football works at all levels, it speaks to all peoples.
It opens doors and builds friendships like nothing else.
It can do this better than business; better than governments; better than any individual could ever hope to do.
But when it all comes together � football, business, government � it�s a very powerful force.

And that force can be put to work for Australia�s interests in all sorts of ways.
I can assure you that this fact is not lost on our Prime Minister

So ladies and gentlemen, we are playing for big stakes in bidding for a World Cup.
But it is not a reckless gamble.

Any investment during the campaign for the bid is relatively modest.
The big investments need only flow once we are assured of hosting one of the World Cups.

The prize is too big not to go for it. And we have a better than even chance.
All of us at the FFA will devote ourselves fully to the task.
I have the personal commitment of our political leaders.

We have the goodwill and support of other sporting codes around the country.
And we will now embark on a mission to enlist all Australians in what we hope will be an exciting and ultimately successful campaign to bring the greatest show on earth to Australia.
Thank you.

Thanks for the info Midfielder, it's good to be in touch with the plans that FFA are up to and what we may get the on the side benefits.