Prime Minister Kevin Rudd yesterday officially launched Australia's bid to host the soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022, saying the challenge was great but the prize was even greater.
Rudd told an official ceremony at Parliament House in the national capital Canberra that Football Federation Australia (FFA) had the full backing of his government to bid for the showpiece event.
"The sheer odds are tough against Australia, eight other countries, but the reason the government has got behind the bid is that we as a nation can rise behind this great bid," Rudd said.
The prime minister said the chance to host a World Cup was a great opportunity for the nation.
"The challenges are great, but the prize is much greater," he said. "I salute those who have had the courage, initiative and creativity to bring forth this idea."
English Premier League stars, national skipper Lucas Neill and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, also spoke at the launch, urging Australians to throw their support behind the bid.
"We know this (World Cup dream) because we've been there and we've worked hard to get there again," Neill said of Australia's qualifying for next year's World Cup in South Africa.
"And we will be doing everything we can to help Australia win this bid."
FFA chairman Frank Lowy said it would be an "unparalleled opportunity" for Australia to earn official acceptance as a World Cup host.
"We have entered a campaign to host the World Cup confidently and we enter to win, but we do not underestimate our competition," Lowy said at the launch.
"We will be up against some of the world's most powerful football nations and we need to respect their credentials.
"But we have our own very strong credentials. We are a fresh football force, our Socceroos are growing in stature on the world stage.
"We now want all Australians to join us in helping to bring the greatest show on Earth to Australia. I think it is a dream that we can all share and together we can make the dream come true."
Lowy said Australia's "secret weapon" for winning the World Cup bid was the Australian people, and Australia's desirability as a travel destination.
"People from all over the world want to visit our country and thanks to the performance of the Socceroos at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, as well as the many thousands of Australian fans who followed them, the rest of the world has a very positive view of us."
Lowy also pointed to Australia's record of hosting successful major sports events such as the 1956 and 2000 Olympic Games.
Australia are among nine bidders, along with Belgium-Netherlands, England, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Portugal-Spain, Russia and the United States, for the 2018 World Cup.
The same nine bidders are also in the running for the 2022 World Cup, along with Qatar and South Korea.
World football governing body FIFA will announce both the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts in December 2010.
Source: China Daily
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