Update:
A corruption scandal is surrounding FIFA with the provisional suspension of its vice-president Jack Warner, of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Asian Football Confederation president, Qatar’s Mohamed bin Hammam after an internal inquiry confirmed allegations they offered $US40,000 ($A37,300) in bribes to Caribbean football officials to back Mr bin Hammam’s bid – now withdrawn – to topple Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.
reports:
“A further six FIFA executive committee members are under investigation for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for their votes from certain nations bidding to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Australia’s $46 million taxpayer-funded bid, which attracted only a single vote from the executive committee, heavily courted Mr Warner and Mr bin Hammam at the suggestion of European consultants Peter Hargitay and Fedor Radmann.
So. Australia got knocked out of the bid for the 2022 World Cup of Soccer of FIFA or whatever it’s called (disclosure: care factor low). In the first round we received 1 vote to Qatar’s 11. Incidentally, Qatar is a country without any football stadiums, very few football fans and an average temperature of 50 degrees celsius most days. That’s a tough defeat. The bid has been spearheaded by Westfield billionaire and Australian soccer president (or something) Frank Lowy who clearly wanted this to be his legacy.
I have a couple of questions to post today. I’ve listened to a huge amount of hoo-ha about how the video that was the foundation of our final presentation sucked. How it was a cringey reflection of what Australia is in 2010. The point was made – in the video’s defence – that the average age of the audience was 70 and the iconic 80s imagery was what they would know and love best about Australia.
This happens often. Remember the kangaroos on bicycles before we hosted the 2000 Olympics? More freaking out by media and advertising people who were insulted by the cheesy depiction of Australia. But really, what a country is famous for is always cheesy. France – baguettes and berets and the Eiffel Tower. Italy – pizza and big Italian mamas. Ultimately, most countries look pretty much the same these days, don’t they? We’re all pretty Cosmopolitan. But that would make for some pretty samey video presentations wouldn’t it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lxv_Wm_qNw&feature=player_embedded
This is Qatar’s winning bid.
What do you think of the video? How should Australia best be presented to the world?
Top Comments
http://www.theage.com.au/sp...
"FIFA president Sepp Blatter says gay supporters should not have sex in Qatar, with homosexuality banned in the Gulf State"
He was joking, but still - calls into question the suitability of selecting Qatar.
Australia's video submission was cringe-worthy. The only section that was relevant was the bit where the people were playing soccer near Ayres Rock! There should have been more about the love of soccer by Australia and Australians .. more kids playing it, etc. As it was, it came across as an arrogant "look how much wonderful Aussie stuff we can cram into almost 7 minutes of footage to show why we're clearly the right nation to host ......" Umm, what was it for again?? Even when we lost, there wasn't too much humility .. it was more, WTF?? We didn't win???? How is that POSSIBLE??? I, for one, was embarrassed by my nation's arrogance .. a nation that is normally renowned for its ability to be humble and to not take itself too seriously.
And on a side-issue, when can we have someone running our country who is committed to politics and isn't a wannabe celebrity???? I'm over seeing our Prime-Minister(s) trying to be funny and fun on things like this submission and Rove, etc. Give me a reason to take you people seriously. Seriously.
Qatar's submission, while not original, was succinct and it DID convey a feeling of passion and excitement. It left me with a much more uplifted feeling.
It's ULURU not ayres rock.
The presentation was awful, silly no wonder we got booted out on the first go round.
As for our PMs appearing as a guest on entertainment shows, they were probably guided by the same idiots who made the video.
Really is all Australia can offer the world sydney, Uluru, and a very silly looking Hoges ...
I cannot imagine anyone who cares passionately at a grass roots level about soccer would have chosen to go the path of the bid video.