COATES LEADS NATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIA'S 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP BID

AOC, July 6: Australian Olympic Committee chief, John Coates AC has declared his support for a united national bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, saying recent efforts to undermine the bid have no substance or credibility.

Australia's most experienced international sports administrator has led the push following last Friday's all-clear provided by government for Football Federation Australia's financial management.

Mr Coates has been involved at the highest levels of international sport for many years, including mounting the successful bid for Australia to host the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

He said yesterday the FFA campaign appeared to be run along similar lines to campaigns for the Olympics and other major events.

"All of these events are massive international sporting events and it requires an all-out effort to win the right to host them," he said.

"There are very clear rules of engagement which must be observed, but you must also execute the campaign with enthusiasm.

"Australia is up against very fierce competitors and we can't enter these contests with a timid approach.

"There will always be sinister forces trying to undermine the bid and the Australian media should not be so naive as to play into their hands.

"And now that the Government has re-affirmed its satisfaction with FFA's financial and accounting practices, it's time the whole country got behind the bid."

Mr Coates said the bid for the World Cup echoed Australia's experience in trying to win the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

The Olympic bid enjoyed widespread support from all sports and the community generally and the bid for the World Cup deserves the same level of support.

"This is not a game of marbles," Coates said. "It's played for big stakes by some very tough competitors. There are no quarters asked, and none given, and FFA has to stick to its guns if it wants to win."

Press Release issued by AOC