2018 Host City Bid process drawing to a close
Sunderland’s 2018 team will travel to London today for what will be the final part of the World Cup Host City bid process. Over the next three days each of the potential Host Cities will give their final presentation to representatives of England 2018, including Lord Brian Mawhinney, Chairman of the Applicant Host City Selection Panel, Chairman of The Football League and Board Member of England 2018, Andy Anson, Chief Executive of England 2018 and Simon Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of England 2018.
The Sunderland delegation, including SAFC Chairman Niall Quinn, Bid Champion Steve Cram and Chief Executive of Sunderland City Council, Dave Smith, will be joined by a team of experts from the Sunderland 2018 bid team. Their presentation will capture the essence of Sunderland’s bid, showcasing the city’s ability to deliver major events, whilst highlighting the unique passion for football and sport as well as the tremendous partnerships that have been created across the region.
We are really looking forward to sharing Sunderland’s 2018 vision with the England 2018 delegates. Although the bid process is drawing to a close we’re certainly not taking our foot off the gas and I know every member of the bid team will be working hard right up until the successful Candidate Host Cities are announced.- Niall Quinn, commenting ahead of the trip to London
Lighting Up Lives DVD
The event will also see the London premiere of Sunderland’s official 2018/22 Lighting Up Lives DVD, which was filmed in locations across the North East, and showcases an array of local landmarks and people as well as demonstrating Sunderland’s strong partnerships in the region.
Young Academy footballers representing Sunderland’s partnerships with Middlesbrough FC, Hartlepool United FC, Carlisle United FC and Darlington FC feature throughout the film, along with Durham County cricketers Phil Mustard and Will Gidman, highlighting the inclusion of Durham’s Riverside Ground as a potential training venue.
Iconic regional locations such as Durham Cathedral, Penshaw Monument, Carlisle Castle, Hartlepool’s Historic Quay and Sunderland’s beautiful coastline form a stunning backdrop to the DVD.
There has been a tremendous amount of hard work gone into our bid and I am very proud of everyone involved. There is a strong determination throughout the bid team to ensure that we give the City of Sunderland and the wider North East region the chance to shine in 2018.- Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council
Sunderland AFC Marketing and Commercial Director Lesley Callaghan has led the football club’s involvement in the bid process and will travel to London as part of the delegation. “The presentation is the culmination of months of intense hard work by the bid team, she said, “there has been a real determination from everyone to show just what the club, city and our region is capable of.”
Sunderland’s World Cup Host City Bid Director Chris Alexander will also be in London and added: “We are looking forward to showing the England 2018 team what Sunderland and the North East region is all about. Our bid encapsulates all that is great about this unique part of the country and we will certainly be doing everything we can to demonstrate that to the England 2018 representatives.”