Saudi, British FMs discuss regional developments in phone call    Saudi Arabia unveils new skill-based system for expatriate work permits Classification for existing workers began on June 18 while July 1 set for newcomers    New Saudi embassy building inaugurated in Moscow    Nearly 17 million foreign pilgrims perform Umrah in 2024, up 101% from 2022 Makkah ranks 5th globally in number of international visitors    Saudi Arabia reaffirms dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development    Over 80,000 commercial registrations issued in 2Q 2025, bringing total to 1.7 million    Elon Musk announces launch of new political party amid fallout with Trump    UK Foreign Secretary makes historic visit to Syria    Khamenei makes first public appearance since Iran–Israel war    Desperate search continues as Texas flood kills 51, including 15 children 27 girls from summer camp still missing    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Level Up Docuseries launches June 6 on Prime Video    OPEC+ further accelerates oil output hike by 548,000 bpd in August    Saudi Arabia tops global ICT Development Index for 2025    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sole candidate Australia to host 2015 Asian Cup
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 06 - 01 - 2011

DOHA: Australia went some way to easing the pain of losing out to Qatar in the 2022 World Cup race by being awarded the 2015 Asian Cup Wednesday.
Football Federation Australia was the sole candidate for the event but still had to adhere to the formal bidding process by making its final presentation to the Asian Football Confederation's executive committee.
“Today the AFC met and decided Australia would be the host nation for the 2015 Asian Cup,” AFC president Mohamad Bin Hammam said at a press conference in Doha ahead of the 2011 tournament that kicks off here Friday.
“We considered all the achievments made in Australia towards the development of football and to encourage the next step in developing the game, we are happy to announce the AFC has approved Australia to host the 2015 Asian Cup.”
The decision comes barely a month after Australia's expensive failed bid to hold the 2022 World Cup, which humiliatingly received just one vote from FIFA's executive committee.
Instead Qatar was surprisingly handed the tournament ahead of more fancied bids from not just Australia, but Japan, South Korea and the United States.
Bin Hammam, himself a Qatari, said he was confident Australia would host a top-class tournament in 2015.
“The AFC is happy that all the promises Australia has made will be met in good time,” he said.
“We have much interest in seeing the game develop even more in Australia and this is a part of that.”
Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy said his country had plenty of experience of hosting big events and the government was fully behind the bid.
“We are delighted that you, Mr. President, and your executive committee decided to award the hosting of the 2015 Asian Cup to Australia,” he said.
“We will do the best possible job for the AFC and for Australia.
“The Australian nation will be on show not just on the field but also off the field.
“The people of Australia, the government of Australia are ready and able to host the Cup and ensure that football advances throughout Asia through the efforts of Australia.” The tournament is planned for January 2015 and will feature the 16 top teams in Asia with matches to be played at four or five selected venues.
Those will be chosen from an initial eight stadiums put forward by Australia's bid team.
These include Sydney's ANZ Stadium, Sydney Football Stadium and Parramatta Stadium, Melbourne's Etihad Stadium and AAMI Park, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, Gold Coast's Skilled Park and Canberra Stadium.
Among the biggest challenges facing organizers will be the heat in what is Australia's summer.
This, though, pales in comparison with Qatar's predicament of hosting the 2022 World Cup in June-July when temperatures in the tiny Gulf emirate soar.
Qatar has insisted that it won the World Cup bid on the merits of a bold proposal to build climate-controlled stadia that will enable players and fans to be comfortable in its desert heat. But there have been sceptics amid claims that the decision was political, linked to Qatar's deep pockets.
– Agence France


Clic here to read the story from its source.