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David Beckham: Winning this bid will inspire the nation
Raoul Simons and Simon Johnson18.05.09
David Beckham claimed today that winning the right to host the World Cup would serve to inspire a new generation of home-grown English footballers.
The former England captain was part of the team that successfully brought the Olympics to London and today he lent his support to the Football
Association's 2018 bid, which was officially launched at Wembley Stadium.
Beckham, who is a bid vice-president said: “To have the World Cup in your own country is the dream of any player. I know the passion of our fans and they would provide an incredible atmosphere at every game. A World Cup in England would inspire a generation of younger players and capture the imagination of everyone.”
Beckham was joined by Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney and around 500 guests at today's event, including Sir Geoff Hurst and other surviving members of England's World Cup winning team of 1966.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown also spoke and gave the Government's full backing, while Conservative leader David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat counterpart Nick Clegg sent messages of support.
FIFA's 24-man executive committee will vote on the hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in December next year and England will face fierce competition from Spain, Russia, the United States and Australia.
FA chairman Lord Triesman pledged to spend the next 19 months putting together the “strongest possible” bid.
Triesman, who is also chairman of the FA's bid team said: “We have everything needed to create the best possible festival of football. We have first-class grounds, good transport links and excellent accommodation — and all of this is already in place.”
FIFA have set a deadline of 14 May 2010 for all countries in the running for either 2018 or 2022 to submit technical bids outlining the practicalities of how they will stage the World Cup.
England's bid chief executive Andy Anson stressed those details are the immediate focus and the process of selecting the 16 to 18 stadiums — from up to 12 host cities — would begin immediately.
Fifteen English cities have already shown interest and Anson said: “We know the logistical and technical standards we must meet or exceed. We're lucky to have a choice from more than 20 stadiums that can reach the FIFA qualifying standard.
“Today we launch the official England 2018 host city selection process — a process that will culminate in December this year. This is an ambitious bid and its foundation will be up to 12 host cities. Each will need to ensure that everything required of a global sporting event is in place, like a world-class base camp for every one of the 32 finalists and a fan park that brings the festival to the streets.”
Beckham believes that infrastructure alone will not be enough to convince FIFA to bring the tournament back to England. He views the passion generated by English football supporters as being another crucial factor. He said: “We have the stadiums and they would be sold-out for every game. But everywhere I have played, the big players I've played with always ask me what it's like to play in England and they always talk about the passion of the fans and how much they love it.
“The passion does not just stop in the Premier League. It's at grassroots and Sunday League level and all the way up the pyramid.
“At Euro 96 I remember the passion that came from the fans. When we stage big competitions here everyone gets excited and no other country can compete with that.”
As well as the prestigious value, there is a huge financial incentive to winning the right to host the World Cup. In 2006, the German FA's organising committee earned about 500 million, while visitors who descended on the German host cities spent 1.8 billion on accommodation, food, drink and shopping.
Triesman added: “There will be
economic benefits across the whole country.”
Rival bidders
Russia: Footballing powerhouse but has never hosted tournament.
Holland/Belgium: Euro2000 hosts but FIFA are sceptical about joint bids.
Spain/Portugal: Spain is prepared to marginalise Euro2004 host if needed.
Mexico: Twice hosted tournament but has since built many new stadia.
USA: World Cup 94 host and has Obama support but still not a football nation.
Australia: Growing enthusiasm for football and hosted Olympics in 2000.
Japan: Has the infrastructure but only recently hosted tournament, in 2002.
What next?
11 Dec 2009: Deadline to submit bids.
14 May 2010: Submission to FIFA of bid book and all other documents.
Dec 2010: 2018, 2022 hosts named.
Reader views (29)
If South Korea and Japan can put in a joint bid why should Scotland's 4 serious stadia not be used for the first round?
- W R Stevenson, London SE26
Dump the olympics they are costing a fortune the country cannot afford.If the useless broon is involved then the world cup will never come to England.
- John, benidorm,spain
"Should Britain bid for 2018 World Cup?" asks the question. Britain? I wasn't aware there was a 'Britain' team? Scotland & Wales might have something to say on this. Surely we are talking about England bidding for the world cup? Why not bid, it won't cost anything like the ridiculous Olympics and we the tax payer won't be landed with a massive out of control cost. Lets face it with the way this current govt. does it's figures you can be sure that the REAL cost of the Olympics is way above what they are telling us. England already has superb stadia, the majority of English fans are well versed in football history and just like Euro 96 would make great hosts, just keep Jonah Brown well away from any bid. Also to all the Londoner's having a moan on here, the world cup would be played mostly outside of London. Duh!
- Ed, Hants
The only way I want the World Cup here is if Beckham and the rest of them pay for it themselves out their own pocket. Sorry I can't afford to pay for anyone else's grandiose wishes. If it costs £8m so far to police the tamil protests, how much alone would it cost to police not only our own hooligans but everyone else's hooligans as well. That's before we count the cost of the football requirements.
- Lou, London
No no no. Brown is only involved in this Bid to show he can actually do something....
- Maggi Nixon, London
why cant they leave things be? sod the world cup, olympics are bad enough
- Peter Woods, Romford
Just pray that Spain and Portugal bid doesnt go ahead cause then, England has no chance of winning at all.
They have the all package, great weather, friendly and party people, less hooliganism, good stadiums, beaches...everything that would make 2018 perfect!!!!!!!!
- Arthur, London
A bit rich from Bob in Fife Scotland as we give £15billion a year in tax relief to the Scots and what have they ever given us? G.Brown Failed at everything,Failed Bank (RBS)Failed Building Societies,Many Failed and rewarded people (Speaker in commons and Goodwin as another of the many)clocks changed to help a few crofters etc etc.
- Mike, London England
Can we swap the World Cup for the Olympics? At least for the footie we already have the stadia built. We could turn the half-built Olympic stadium in Stratford into something more useful, like an arena for gladiatorial displays between good and bad MPs.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Good luck, I hope we get it, great for the country
- Dave, Madrid
We certainly don't want the World Cup - We've had the Olympics foisted onto us at a great expense for very little return. Leave London alone for goodness sake.
- Bill, Pimlico, England
The simple answer to the question is NO!!!! Waste of money like the Olympics.
- Judith C, London,England
Not satisfied at bankrupting the country with the next Olympic games......they want us to be further in debt with the World Cup, is Beckham putting any of his money into it!!!! God we need an election soon.
- Lloyd, Glan Conwy
Nealy man, never won anything RICH footballer and reviled Prime Minister. Great. Not and we certainly do not deserve it if we cant do better than these wo heading the campaign Both yesterday's men ALREADY
- Amazonmothe, hasting
Beckham and Brown not a chance the 2 of them dont do anything for the future of England waste of money and we can not afford this one
- Terry Chambers, London
BOB FROM FIFE, WE SUFFER FROM A SCOTTISH PRIM MINISTER, A SCOTTISH SPEAKER. SCOTLAND GETS HELP WITH PRESCRIPTIONS, EXPENSIVE DRUGS, CARE IN NURSING HOMES, AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, ALL OF WHICH WE DO NOT GET. WHY THEREFORE DO YOU OBJECT T0 PAYING FOR YOUR SHARE OF NATIONAL SPORTS.
PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY SPORTS AS THEY ARE THE PROVINCE OF MILLIONAIRE SPORTSMEN, MAINLY PLAYED BY FOREIGN PLAYERS. IF YOU HAD LESS FOREIGNERS PLAYING IN YOUR CLUBS YOUR NATIONAL TEAM MIGHT DO BETTER.
SPEND ALL THE MONEY ON FACILITIES FOR THE YOUNG.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Jowell and Coe have already burdened the tax payers with billions of pounds of toxic debt. The spending to date is guaranteed to take at least 30 years to repay. This country is bankrupt and cannot afford to host another major sporting event which will be used by Gordon Brown as a photo opportunity. If Boris Johnson were to sack Jowell and Coe and cancel the olympics then we could consider hosting the world cup.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Looks like two goal scorers and one own goal scorer !
- Wills, Soton
NO WE SHOULD NOT BID NOW THAT CALAMITY BROWN HAS GOT INVOLVED, EVERYTHING WILL GO PEAR SHAPED JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE HE TOUCHES, HE SHOULD CALL AN ELECTION AND GO FOR THE SAKE OF THIS COUNTRY, HE IS A NATIONAL EMBARRASMENT,
- Jim Fennessey, london
NO.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green
Should go to Russia.
But if England wants it.......so long as not one penny of the funding comes from any Scottish taxpayer or lottery ticket purchased in nScotland.
- Bob, Fife, Scotland
We have not staged this event since 1966 when Harold Wilson had England play in RED shirts so its time for football to come home!
Unlike the Olympics we already have several stadiums fit to stage the world cuo and by 2018 Spurs may also have their new ground. While having staged the Olympics the new stadium could also be used if suitably adapted.
Unlike other sports their is no shortage of money in football so the main call on the public purse should be more linked to transport infrustructure upgrades which have a long term benefit long after the event has happened.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
Brown should be calling a general election not standing on a football pitch!!!
- Raymond, Poole
Don,t let Brown get involved for gods sake. We won,t stand a chance.
- C.D.C., Shropshire
Who are the losers with Wayne?
- Man U Fan, London
Who's the loser with David and Wayne ?
- Doug Watt, london e14
Shame, would of prefered it to the Olympics, as we have the stadia and we had to built new stadiums for the olympics, money could of been saved....
Look at Euro 96, was a success, World Cup fever would bring in lots of money and tourists....
- Adrian, london
Everything Beckham touches crumbles into dust. Get someone else I say
- Keith Price, Luton, England
God NO were wasting £billions already on the Olympics never mind a football gravy train a few years afterwards. The fact that we have not won anything since 1966 should be a clue!
- Mike, London England
