Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg ready to bid for 2018 World Cup
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are ready to begin a campaign to jointly stage the 2018 World Cup, the organizer of the 2000 European Championship said Monday.
''We will certainly enter our bid during the month of January,'' said Alain Courtois, the organizer of the 2000 European Championship, which was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.
''We have a good opportunity,'' said Courtois on the Actua TV network. He said the three neighbouring countries would stand a strong chance because it appeared increasingly unlikely there would be bids by one of the sport's major nations in Europe.
With the 2010 World Cup set for South Africa, FIFA has not yet formally started accepting bids for 2014, tentatively reserved for South America under the world body's vague continental rotation policy.
After that, it could return to Europe.
Courtois said that since France organized it in 1998 and Germany this summer, Europe would not be considered that soon again. He expected Italy to get the 2012 European Championship while England already has the 2012 Summer Games in London.
And he speculated it was unlikely Spain would bid since Madrid likely would seek the 2020 Olympics.
It opened a window of opportunity for another co-hosting of the biggest single-sport event.
Following the joint hosting of the 2002 World Cup by Japan and South Korea, FIFA has discouraged the idea of co-hosts again. Yet Courtois said that could change within a few years.
Courtois said he had polled politicians and sporting institutions in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and found widespread support.
''So far, we have had nothing but green lights,'' he said.
At the moment, Belgium does not have a stadium that would meet World Cup standards, while the Netherlands has three major venues. He said the development of stadiums would amount to the biggest challenge.
The Netherlands is a country of 16.5 million people, Belgium has 10.5 million while tiny Luxembourg only has 475,000.
''It is the best way to make these countries well known around the world,'' he said.
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Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg.... Sounds actually pretty interesting. 3 beautiful countries with very welcoming people apperently.
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg are ready to begin a campaign to jointly stage the 2018 World Cup, the organizer of the 2000 European Championship said Monday.
''We will certainly enter our bid during the month of January,'' said Alain Courtois, the organizer of the 2000 European Championship, which was co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.
''We have a good opportunity,'' said Courtois on the Actua TV network. He said the three neighbouring countries would stand a strong chance because it appeared increasingly unlikely there would be bids by one of the sport's major nations in Europe.
With the 2010 World Cup set for South Africa, FIFA has not yet formally started accepting bids for 2014, tentatively reserved for South America under the world body's vague continental rotation policy.
After that, it could return to Europe.
Courtois said that since France organized it in 1998 and Germany this summer, Europe would not be considered that soon again. He expected Italy to get the 2012 European Championship while England already has the 2012 Summer Games in London.
And he speculated it was unlikely Spain would bid since Madrid likely would seek the 2020 Olympics.
It opened a window of opportunity for another co-hosting of the biggest single-sport event.
Following the joint hosting of the 2002 World Cup by Japan and South Korea, FIFA has discouraged the idea of co-hosts again. Yet Courtois said that could change within a few years.
Courtois said he had polled politicians and sporting institutions in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and found widespread support.
''So far, we have had nothing but green lights,'' he said.
At the moment, Belgium does not have a stadium that would meet World Cup standards, while the Netherlands has three major venues. He said the development of stadiums would amount to the biggest challenge.
The Netherlands is a country of 16.5 million people, Belgium has 10.5 million while tiny Luxembourg only has 475,000.
''It is the best way to make these countries well known around the world,'' he said.
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Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg.... Sounds actually pretty interesting. 3 beautiful countries with very welcoming people apperently.
