Alive and kicking
Despite an avalanche of analysis from the western press slamming Egypt as a "non-contender" to the bid, Egypt's campaign around the world remains strong.
Inas Mazhar reports
In recent weeks the sports-reporters of the world have done what they perhaps do best -- backed their own agenda. Egypt has been slammed by the press of every bidding nation, being cited without any factually laid-out basis as standing absolutely no 2010 hosting chance.
The Egyptian approach to the 2010 campaign is slightly different to that unfortunate norm. Conceivably the by-product of the country's long and rich resumé for hosting world class events, the Ministry of Youth and the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) long ago made a firm commitment to campaign on the basis of merit -- highlighting their own, and also, time has shown, that of the other candidate nations.
In recent weeks the dissolving of the football federation board and committee served as fuel for that media zoo -- Egypt being banished by the foreign headlines from even the bottom ranks of the contention ranks. The board had submitted a mass resignation in the aftermath of a slew of below-par football results.
The national reaction to the international critique was nil.
Minister of Youth Aliedddin Hilal promptly appointed a new board and committee whose members and head immediately reiterated the governing football body's commitment to the bid and plans for development (see Sports pages).
"Our strategy and plan since we started working for the bid remains as it is," Hisham Azmi, 2010 bid file coordinator told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Nothing has changed."
The position of several EFA members and bid file organizers was in question after the dissolving. Minister Hilal, however, was quick to preserve the place of Egypt's 2010 task force and agenda: Azmi's place as an EFA member remains intact.
"Our agenda remains the same and our commitment remains the same," he said. "What we are focussing on now is attracting more supporters, mainly officials -- as is stipulated as a key factor in the candidature-hosting criteria. We are keen on being present at any international football events at multiple levels and on attending all international meetings: FIFA meetings, the Continental Confederation's general assembly meetings and the Confederation's executive committee meetings."
Amidst the turbulence of the past month -- when the nation in part was holding its breath -- the 2010 Egypt campaigners were diligently at work.
"In the past month," Azmi told the Weekly, "we attended two important meetings and achieved positive results. Our campaign this time took place in Paraguay, South America, where the continent's Confederation meeting took place. Three South Americans are members of FIFA's 24-man executive committee [which makes the final decision on the host nation in May]. Also present was FIFA president Joseph Blatter and Verrard De Louna, president of the Spanish Football Association (SFA)," Azmi said. "Our attendance was critical. Representatives from South Africa and Morocco were also present campaigning their files."
Like Egypt, the Moroccans and South Africans were lobbying for as much support as they could gain -- each country vying for its World Cup slot through its own calculated technique.
"The South Africans were playing their cards with the Latin Americans depending on the proximity between South Africa and South America," Azmi said of the bidders. "While the Moroccans were trying to attract the Spaniards and the Europeans by highlighting and promoting the proximity between Morocco and Europe," he shared. "The pitch was that the Spaniards could travel to Morocco by boat in the morning, watch the game, and then return back home at night after spending a whole day there."
Egypt's place at a historically described "crossroads" of the world remains an unannounced reality -- unmentioned and undisputed.
The South America trip allowed Azmi to highlight Egypt's bid through a 45-minute presentation to the international press, another to the Confederation's executive committee, and numerous interviews with international press and media outlets.
From Paraguay Azmi flew to London -- the creator of formalised modern-day football -- where he partook in the kick-off of FIFA's centenary celebrations and the meeting of the FIFA General Assembly.
"London was a great event and our campaign was also fruitful," he said. "We met all FIFA officials and the entire FIFA 24-man executive committee members [once again]. The event marked the last time all 24 members would gather together, and with bidders, before the final deciding meeting on 14 May."
The only missing member was Costa Rica's Isaac David Sasso, who had officially written-in sick.
"We made our presentations and spoke to the media," said Azmi. "Our delegation was also joined by Dr Vicken and Maged Sami of the Wadi Degla Arsenal Club. They held individual meetings with some officials and also with the executive committee members. We all presented the bid file components and highlighted the steps taken and progress made. We also took the opportunity to fix appointments with the individual members in their respective countries."
During the course of the tour, Azmi received confirmation from FIFA president Joseph Blatter of his promised visit to Egypt on 21 and 22 March. Blatter and Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Confederation and member of the FIFA executive committee, were both invited to visit Egypt by the minister of youth and the EFA. Azmi also confirmed the 15 to 18 March visit of leading football journalists and commentators from around the world.
Azmi is currently in the Far East continuing his campaign tour. There he will attend the Asian executive committee meeting in Kuala Lampour, Malaysia. Meanwhile, support at home continues to intensify. Osvaldo Pascual, Argentina's ambassador in Egypt, announced his full support for the Egyptian bid to host the FIFA World Cup. The ambassador praised Egypt's great capabilities which make it worthy of hosting such an event. The meeting -- which took place at the embassy last week -- was attended by 2010 bid committee head, Mohamed El-Siagi, 2010 committee foreign affairs manager, Dr Sahar El-Hawary, Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs public relations manager, Alaa El-Kashef, and internationally exhibited Egyptian artist Ahmed Shaker.
Pascual stressed what he believes are Egypt's points of strength: "Peace and security, a fact which is not easy at all to be bought or established. Its current infrastructure, besides Egyptians' hospitality, enthusiasm and affection for football," something to which he has been witness, he said, throughout his four years in Egypt. The Argentinean ambassador assured that he had sent an official letter to his Ministry of Foreign Affairs to procure their support for the Egyptian bid.
In another bid action, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid reiterated his support for Egypt 2010 on the sidelines of the International Training Conference of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases held in Cairo last week. Over 1000 physicians and surgeons from 26 countries participated in the conference. "Yes to Egypt" cards were also slotted into the ballot boxes at the International Digital Media Conference last week.
Amidst the lobbying, the media-badgering continues. The Egyptian delegation and officials, however, have put their hands on their ears, and their minds in the business.
"One of our commitments is not to criticise other candidates or attempt to highlight weaknesses," Minister Hilal told the Weekly. "From the very beginning we made a commitment to focussing on Egypt and why it should win -- nothing more. Every other nation thinks it deserves the event, as do we. Every other nation has its strengths, as do we. Our focus," he stressed, "is us."
