Continuous contact

It really is a political battle, as former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali described it. For sport is no longer a matter of competition among a limited number of sportsmen, just for the entertainment of onlookers. Rather, it replaces the implements of modern war, or threats of economic and cultural embargo, as an instrument of paradoxically peaceful warfare. No doubt sport has contributed to thawing the icebergs separating competing regimes in the past: when an American team went to play a symbolic game with its Chinese counterpart in Peking, during the reign of President Nixon, for example, the incident preceded the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The sportsman's diplomacy has thus triumphed where military battles failed.

Of all the sports, football remains the most popular worldwide. And it is in recognition of its importance -- and with an enthusiasm shared by officials and the public -- that Egypt takes up the task of bidding to host the 2010 World Cup on its soil. The Mondial is, after all, a political, cultural and economic event; it is an expedient way for the peoples of different nationalities to mingle at close range. In this context it would be well to remember that Egypt is Africa's pioneer nation, having helped numerous African countries gain their independence, and having contributed as well to the release of Nelson Mandela and the abolition of apartheid. As Ghali also noted, Egypt played a vital role in spreading peace throughout the region, displaying remarkable historical presence.

Some three quarters of the ancient world's monuments are located in the land of the Pyramids. Egypt has a unique geographical position on the world map, and possesses all that is required for holding a different World Cup -- the details of which have been included in the file Egypt submitted to FIFA.

Arriving on 23 January, an international committee of observers will visit Cairo to see for itself. My objective, however, is to draw the attention of those responsible for that file, to the fact that it is not enough to simply supply FIFA with the necessary information. Rather, we must never lose sight of the fact that this is a long- term diplomatic battle in which personal communications play a prominent role. And it will be up to those efficient and competent parties to maintain the effort necessary for Egypt to have the honour of hosting the 2010 Mondial.