UK Eyes Bill to Guide Games Bidding Process

The UK government is looking to approve a Major Sporting Events Bill to help during the bidding process for major international sporting events.

Such events are becoming increasingly professional and, hence, place increasingly onerous and complex demands on the nations hosting them.

Winning a bid frequently requires the passage of new legislation as a matter of urgency.

The drafting of a new, generic sports events Act - covering issues such as visas, ticket touting, image/trademark protection and advertising - could, it is felt, act as a template for any event, leaving specific details to be addressed via a statutory instrument.

Exclusive: Government plans to introduce Major Sporting Events Act
Insidethegames
November 15, 2010

London Seeks to Host Gay Games in 2018

London is hoping to parlay its hosting of the 2012 Summer Olympics into a second event, the 2018 Gay Games.

“In my role as Minister for Sport and the Olympics, I am the person responsible for Olympic legacy. Providing a sporting legacy from the 2012 Games is my top priority. We are committed to provide a lasting legacy for athletics. It is vital that we use the 2012 Games to get more people involved in sport and to ensure that our elite athletes are receiving the best possible opportunities and we are working closely with our partners to achieve this goal,” [said Hugh Robertson MP, Minister for Sport and the Olympics from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport]

London bids to host official Gay Games 2018
PinkPaper
August 13, 2010

Lobbyists' Potentially Corrupt Practices for Australia's 2022 World Cup Bid

The Age provides some background on the potentially corrupt practices of two lobbyist who are working with Australia on the country's bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Two controversial European lobbyists hired to help bring the soccer World Cup to Australia stand to receive up to $11.37 million in fees and bonuses - one-quarter of the taxpayer-funded bid - according to secret Football Federation Australia files.

The files include a spreadsheet that suggests the federal government was not told specific details about how taxpayers' money was to be spent on the lobbyists and grants to overseas football bodies headed by powerful FIFA officials.

World Cup money trail: lobbyists to make millions
The Age
June 30, 2010

Potential Corruption in Australia's 2022 World Cup Bid

Another detailed post from Pitch Invasion looking into the past of one of the consultants working with Australia on the country's bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

Radmann’s links to the global game and the World Cup go back decades, and reach to the highest levels of the sport.

In 2000, Radmann was selected by Franz Beckenbauer to play a key role on the Organising Committee for the 2006 World Cup to be held in Germany, touted as a “marketing and PR expert”. He had previously been the co-ordinator of Germany’s successful World Cup bid, one tainted by allegations of bribes paid to FIFA officials to secure the vote.

Australia’s 2022 World Cup Bid and Fedor Radmann: Buying FIFA Connections
Pitch Invasion
July 4, 2010

Suspicious Activities Mar Australia's 2022 World Cup Bid

This detailed post from Pitch Invasion looks at one of two shady characters working behind the scenes on Australia's bid to host the 2022 World Cup, and the light that shines on FIFA's bidding process.

A couple of days ago, we commented on the revelations coming out in the Australian press about the suspect manner in which their World Cup bid was being made. That piece was on how Australia’s governing body, Football Federation Australia (FFA), and its bid team were taking advantage of FIFA’s lax and inadequate rules on gifts to FIFA Executive Committee members (the 24 of whom will decide on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in December).

Today, we will look at another of the revelations to have come out in Australia’s press that once again affirms the entire process of World Cup bidding is all about who you can buy to get the tournament.

Sadly, it means paying $11.37 million (AUS) to two of world soccer’s least pleasant leeches, Peter Hargitay and Fedor Radmann.

Paying Peter Hargitay: The Price Of A World Cup Bid
Pitch Invasion
July 1, 2010

Kissinger to Back U.S. World Cup Bid for 2018/2022

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has again joined the USA Bid Committee to try to make the case for a U.S.-hosted World Cup in either 2018 or 2022. He was on the board for the country's successful 1994 bid, and though he's expressed confidence in the U.S. demand for the game, he thinks a 2018 hosting gig is not likely.

"I don't think we have a huge chance in 2018, it will probably go to Europe, but you can't tell. We have a good chance for 2022," added Kissinger.

...Kissinger was recruited by U.S. Soccer to join the USA Bid Committee to present world soccer's governing body FIFA with proposals to stage a second World Cup in the United States. The 1994 tournament was held in America.

...Asked what he would stress to FIFA in a bid, Kissinger said enthusiastic crowds were one of the key things the U.S. offered.

"In most World Cups, the preliminary games don't have huge attendance. If Yemen plays Egypt, people don't rush to see it, unless it's in one of those countries," he said. "(In 1994) we were sold out at practically every game."

Source:
Detente architect Kissinger backs U.S. World Cup bid
Reuters
March 30, 2009