England’s 2018 bid gets Government boost 16/12/2009 |
|
| |
| |
The British Government has signed off all the financial guarantees required by Fifa for England’s 2018 World Cup bid almost six months ahead of the deadline.
Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe claims that the financial guarantees of £300m, as well as other commitments on security, visas and tax, show that England’s bid is back on track after a string of problems in recent months.
The 2018 board was streamlined in November amid rumours of in-fighting before Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards shocked everyone by stepping down from the new-look team just days after it had been announced.
But Sutcliffe said: “It [the bid] is now united and the guarantees, combined with our offer of a £2.5m loan which is on the table if they want to pick it up, underlines that.
“I think the board moves were right and my concern now is that football will deliver us this bid, as they have to get the votes of the 24 Fifa executive committee members.
“Signing off the guarantees at this early stage puts the bid in good shape.”
The guarantees have been agreed by all political parties and signed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Sutcliffe pointed out that it was imperative to have the commitments in place before the general election next year.
“What’s important to me is that we kept the pressure on and managed to get all the departments to agree very quickly,” he continued.
“It does have all-party support for these are substantial costs for the future, but the World Cup would, of course, also bring huge economic benefits to this country.
“My view was that we wanted this done before Christmas and certainly didn’t want it to run into any problems with a general election when so much else would be happening.”
England bid chairman Lord Triesman welcomed the news and added: “The signing of the guarantees months in advance of the May 2010 deadline is a testament to the Government’s commitment to bringing the World Cup to England – in particular the sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe and his officials who have worked very hard to secure them so early.
“The guarantees underpin around £300m worth of financial commitment without which it would be impossible to host the tournament.
“This again demonstrates England’s desire as a whole to meet and exceed Fifa’s requirements and guarantees Fifa the most secure environment possible for the world’s biggest sporting event in terms of security, financial, legal and commercial partner delivery.”
|
| Back |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
