World Cup 2010 could head Down Under
31 August 2006
By MICHAEL COCKERILL
Sydney Morning Herald
Australia and New Zealand may take over the hosting duties for the world's biggest sporting event, football's World Cup, with speculation persisting that South Africa's preparations for the 2010 tournament are hopelessly behind schedule.
Rumours surfaced during the World Cup in Germany that Australia was an option for 2010 should South Africa fail to meet its construction deadlines.
New Zealand could possibly help Australia in hosting the event, by having a pool based in either Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin.
At the same time, Australia's state premiers have formally committed to a World Cup bid, with 2018 the most likely option. Football Federation Australia is expected to make its own announcement shortly.
Under the loose rotation policy used by international football's world governing body, FIFA, the next three World Cups are due to be hosted by Africa, South America and Asia/Oceania.
But Brazil, which is planning for 2014, does not have enough stadiums to meet a 2010 deadline, leaving Asia-Oceania in pole position should South Africa be stripped of hosting rights.
A joint Australia-New Zealand bid could thus become viable, with Sydney the likely frontrunner to host the final.
South Africa is desperately trying to make up time. Its government has set aside $US750 million ($NZ1.2 billion) to build three stadiums and renovate seven, and 8.7 billion rand ($NZ1.8 billion) to upgrade airports, roads and railways.
Early this month the South African Government approved a special measures bill to meet the legal requirements for hosting the tournament.
During the debate in Parliament, the Minister of Sport, Makhenkesi Stofile, was eager to dismiss criticism that construction was behind schedule and that the country's transport network wouldn't cope with the expected 350,000 visitors.
"The World Cup offers us an opportunity to present ourselves to the world for what we really can be," Mr Stofile said. "We believe that hosting the World Cup offers us the biggest opportunity to banish Afro-pessimism. We do not intend to replicate this year's World Cup or compete with the Germans. But we believe the same spirit of national pride as we saw among the Germans can be achieved among South Africans."
Despite the optimism a senior international football source has told the Herald that doubts persist. Just recently, the source said, a group of British firms pulled out of tendering for World Cup construction work because of impossible deadlines.
A FIFA spokesman described the speculation as ridiculous last night. "We were asked the same thing in July, and the president made it clear we were not looking at alternatives," he said.
However the FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, who has staked much personal prestige on Africa hosting a World Cup, could change his tune if re-elected, as expected, next June. "He can't make any hard decisions now, but if things haven't improved after his election, he might be ready to make a call," a source said.
Australia already has five stadiums [two in Melbourne and Sydney and one in Brisbane] that would meet World Cup standards. A new 60,000-seat stadium is planned for Perth.
The other three stadiums required to host a World Cup would be in New Zealand, which is in the process of upgrading grounds in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin for the 2011 rugby World Cup.
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