Sunderland Bid Team Welcomes 2018 Decision Makers
This week, Sunderland’s 2018 bid team are busily preparing for what could be a crucial decision-making visit for the city’s and the region’s 2018 World Cup prospects should England be successful in securing the competition.
Delegates from England 2018 will once again visit the region to inspect facilities for the final time on Wednesday before they have to decide which cities will be included in England’s official 2018 World Cup bid.
Kicking off in June, Sunderland’s bid has continued to gather pace, capturing the imaginations of people and businesses well outside the boundaries of the city. In recent weeks, two of the region’s biggest employers in Nissan and Caterpillar have shown their support, with thousands of their respective employees signing up to back the bid.
Now, knowing the importance of Wednesday’s visit, the Sunderland 2018 team is keen to pull out all the stops and visiting delegates will be taken on a tour of the region to see hotels, possible fan fest sites, base camps and training facilities as well as a host of other prospective venues along the way.
SAFC Chairman Niall Quinn said:
Bringing World Cup football to England and specifically to our region will provide a lasting legacy. This isn’t just about an individual club, city or town – it’s about the whole of the north east coming together for a common benefit.
It doesn’t matter what team you support, what sport you follow, or even if you follow sport at all. A global event like the World Cup can bring a positive change to the whole of our region. I truly believe we’ve got what it takes in this region to wow the rest of the world, to show them what pride and passion really mean, to highlight the north east at its best and to give them a World Cup they’ll never forget.
Sunderland Bid Champion Steve Cram added:
There’s a tremendous amount of work going into the bid to demonstrate to the England 2018 team that we can not only meet but exceed the expectations of both them and FIFA in hosting the tournament.
Our strength, and what sets us apart from other cities and regions, is our people. The enthusiasm, warmth and hospitality shown by people in this region is second to none and I know that if England is chosen to host the World Cup then the north east will play a huge part in making it a success.
There are 16 cities vying for Host City status and a final decision is expected in December 2009. The successful cities will then be submitted by England 2018 to FIFA as part of their 2018 bid.
And it’s not too late for people to back Sunderland’s bid. Supporters can back the bid by SMS message – text “Sunderland2018” followed by their name, house number and postcode, to 62299 (texts are charged at the standard network rate).
People can also register their support with the FA online at www.sunderland2018-2022.com.