With FIFA delegates more interested in koalas than Australia’s Football World Cup bid perhaps it’s time to be more realistic?
To that end Mr Stanhope has announced that we’re putting our hand up to join the bid for the 2015 Asian Cup:
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the ACT would join NSW, Victoria, Queensland and the Federal Government as well as the Football Federation Australia to bid for the football tournament, which is held every four years.
“The ACT is a proud partner in the Australian bid to host the Asian Cup in 2015 – the premier sporting event of the region,” Mr Stanhope said. “If our bid is successful, Canberra is expected to host six group games and a quarter final, potentially hosting the likes of recent World Cup participants Japan and South Korea.
“These games would offer local football fans world-class sporting action and attract significant visitors to the ACT providing a boost for tourism operators and the thousands of Canberrans they employ.”
The 2015 event will involve the top 16 teams qualifying out of 46 AFC nations including Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India and the United Arab Emirates.
Even better no major stadium upgrades would be required.