May 02, (THEWILL) – A FIFA delegation, on a trip to engage with sport and government stakeholders in the nine host cities of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, was in Sydney/Gadigal, the capital of the Australian state of New South Wales.
As the first stop on their agenda, the delegation, led by Secretary General Fatma Samoura, was there to meet with the local Australian FIFA staff in its Sydney office.
Samoura expressed her ambitions for the competition and hopes for the legacy it will leave for girls and women, not just in the Southern Hemisphere, but worldwide.
She was accompanied by Dave Beeche, CEO of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand, and Jane Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer (COO) for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia.
About the visit, Samoura said: “I’m delighted to be here with all of you who make up the Australian FIFA team. Your passion and excitement for the competition is palpable! The ninth edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be innovative, creative, with new people, new fans and a next level tournament.
“We can all play our part to take this FIFA Women’s World Cup Beyond Greatness and I’m looking forward to working alongside all of you to make this competition unforgettable.”
The delegation next travelled to Football Australia’s offices, where they met with CEO James Johnson and some of the organization’s staff in person and through the internet.
During talks, Samoura expressed her joy at witnessing gender parity in action at Football Australia and reiterated her conviction in football’s potential to promote for equality and inclusion.
Following that, the delegation visited Stadium Australia, where they were greeted by Steve Cox, CEO of Destination New South Wales, and Karen Jones, CEO of the New South Wales Office of Sport.
The 83,000-seat Stadium Australia was built specifically for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
It was there that indigenous athlete Cathy Freeman won a gold medal in the 400 metres at the 2000 Olympics, an event that is imprinted in the hearts of the nation. Four FIFA Women’s World Cup matches, including the Final, will be held at the stadium.
The next day, Steve Cox gave the team a tour of Sydney Football Stadium, which is now undergoing renovations and will reopen this autumn. The stadium will accommodate 42,500 people and will set a new standard for sustainability and accessibility in Australia. In 2023, it will play host to seven FIFA Women’s World Cup matches.
The FIFA team met with Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport and Minister assisting the Premier on Olympic and Paralympic Sport and Engagement.
Discussions with Hinchliffe centred on how the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s positive themes may be echoed by state authorities and tourist initiatives, as well as the State’s commitment to assisting FIFA in delivering an amazing tournament.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
