Behind the scenes

If a nation were to be characterised by a single term, it is quite probable that for Egypt "passion" would be the allocated adjective of choice. Nashwa Abdel-Tawab visits Egypt 2010 committee headquarters, and chats with the 30 young men and women who have made the bid campaign their life

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Egypt's team of young volunteers have often slept at the campaign headquarters. Their unwavering commitment has been lauded by the likes of Boutros Boutros Ghali, a keen supporter of the Egyptian bid photos: Ayman Ibrahim

The issue of whether or not Egypt will win the bid to host the World Cup in 2010 is debatable. Naturally so -- the issue of whether any country will win the bid is equally up in the air.

For a nation like Egypt, however, whose favoured sport comprises part of the nation's social fabric, the odds are not of concern -- winning the bid is a dream the population is willing to toil away for.

Just 62 days until the FIFA decision, I headed for the headquarters of Egypt's 2010 Organising Committee in search of a scoop as to the status of the nation's bid. I leave the headquarters several hours later with far more than that. Passion, it is well known, is contagious.

The buzz at the headquarters is loud. Working on a volunteer basis -- with no holidays, no compensation, and no material gains of any form -- the young men and women that comprise the organising committee are busy; making phone calls, faxing, filing, writing, and running left and right and in and out of the place that for the next 62 days is home.

"We are 30 volunteers but you can't find us in one place," says Rasha Salama. "We're working here, we're working there," she says, animated with her hands and the sparkle in her eyes.

Indeed, it is hard to get Salama to sit down and talk. After much effort, I manage.

"We all speak languages and we are either doing translation or on promotion tours. We write newsletters and update the Web site in English, French, Spanish and German. And we go out on promotion trips inside Egypt to make local people aware of the event and its requirements."

Salama, 25, is responsible for providing translated web content. She joined the committee in an effort to do something for her country.

"I want to see Egypt win the bid because we really deserve it," she says, elaborating on the strengths of the country, such as its security, friendly culture, infrastructure, and of course sheer passion for the sport.

Our conversation is interrupted frequently. A fax to be sent, a call to be answered, a form to fill, or file, or sign.

"Abroad, people think we live in tents and go to work on camels and write on animal skins or something," she says. "That's why I think Egypt 2010 is important. The site is a very important gateway to Egypt," she continues, elaborating on the need for global awareness of the region and its people -- 2010 being the opportune event.

Rania Abul-Gheit, who translates the newsletters into English and updates the Web site, joins in the chat. From her place at the core of the 2010 campaign, she says she holds much hope.

"We're very close to the 'kitchen'," she offers. "We sensed the credibility in the file given to the FIFA. It's not pen to paper. It's true and all the people of the country are willing to help," she says. "The thing is, we're sincere in every word and action," she says, pausing to breathe. "We have a big chance of winning," she smiles, excusing herself to deal with a FedEx package.

Nearby, Hatem Mohamed nods his head at his colleagues' words.

Hatem, a recent graduate of Cairo University's Spanish literature department, joined the team in July.

"I wanted to contribute to the Egypt bid in some way," he says. "And this is the best way I could think of. I think we can definitely win. The file submitted to the FIFA was great and we meet all the requirements needed. I'm very proud being one of the team that prepared the file. It was hectic. Some of us didn't go home and slept at the headquarters for three days till the file was submitted."

But to every member of the young volunteer team, the effort was worth it -- not just on a national level, but on a personal one too.

"The experience gave me confidence in myself," says Ahmed Hanafi, the youngest member on the team, who has juggled his studies with the bid campaign.

Indeed, the experience has been empowering on multi-levels.

"Some Egyptians always tend to think that they can't do anything and they don't believe in their powers," said Mohamed. "But if they only take the time to try, and set their mind to it, they will see that they will succeed. I've learnt through this experience that we must believe in ourselves and our nation."

Work at the headquarters is intense. In the morning the events of the day are gathered, scheduled, and distributed among the staff.

"Some will do translation and others will go out to events," Salama explains. "We attend all international events in all fields held in any part of Egypt. That's how we promote the bid to foreigners," she says. "We also go to regular meetings to embassies to present the Egyptian file. We accompany foreign reporters and delegations inside Egypt," she continues. "We are constantly on mission -- from 10 in the morning till 9pm or 10pm. And at times, when the load was very heavy, we have even had to sleep at the headquarters to finish administrative and translation work."

The team of mostly 20-something year-olds are robust, earning themselves a reputation as "being everywhere". It would make sense. Positioned at their "head", but certainly a reflection of their core, is Dr Amal Gamal, general manager of foreign affairs at the Youth Ministry, and the so-called "command centre" coordinating every element of the bid in Egypt and abroad.

"I'm responsible for coordination between all the committees," Gamal explains. "The French experts who are responsible for preparing the bid file, the 25 ministries that provide the file with all the success points according to the FIFA regulations, those responsible for the international promotion and those responsible for the local promotion. Our volunteers, all youth, cover daily content management of the Egypt 2010 Web site, which so far has had over 15 million hits, and content translation to English, French and Spanish. They communicate with the 24 members of the FIFA [executive committee] via e- mails and faxes, as well as the 204 world football associations worldwide. They also support the local marketing and PR plan by presenting our PR materials at all national events, festivals and trade shows."

Gamal practically gasps for breath. And then smiles -- at her team.

"They take LE15 daily," she says of their efforts. "And it all goes into almost food delivery and transportations," she says. "They are doing a phenomenal job."

The story of Gamal goes back to May 2003, when a French company was hired to take of the bid file preparations and Gamal was chosen as its head.

"Our job at first was very hectic," Gamal says. "It was Egypt's first time to prepare a file, and the French company, which helped France in preparing its file for 1998 World Cup, was just giving the headlines and the main points for us to elaborate and clarify to meet with the requirements of the FIFA. The help of some young volunteers was a must," she says. "Dr Saffeieddin Kharboush [head of Gamal Mubarak's Future Foundation] provided us with some excellent and active young graduates from different colleges," she says. "They are members of the Youth of the Future Club. Then we announced our need and others came."

The criteria: the ability to speak languages, and an unwavering drive and will to succeed.

In a sense -- according to what those around her say and the media writes -- a reflection of Gamal herself.

Gamal, 44, is bursting with enthusiasm for the bid -- something which she has done a good job of passing onto the team that she refers to as her "kids". She has been commended by international media outlets for her efforts and her unyielding source of energy.

But that, she says, is nothing to be impressed by.

"You can't prepare a bid file without a sense of credibility," she says. "If you believe in what you are doing, and believe it with your heart, then you will find the energy for it. We worked on the bid file preparation knowing its credibility, knowing its worth, knowing the truth, and knowing how sincere and committed all the involved parties and ministries were," she offers. "Our logo is uniting people and we really united while doing such a file not for the sake of fame. We are not in the picture. It's a national mission, very sacred and fruitful for the whole nation. We love our country."

To Gamal, the event offers the nation a chance to unite and work together, and the ultimate outcome should not be of concern. It is the gathering of the nation's youth together, for the sake of the nation, that is what events like this are about.

"They have done a great job so far," she says of her team, shrugging the word "proud" as far from description enough. "And they have learnt a lot, and they daily receive thank-you letters and e-mails from foreigners for their supporting effort to the bid."

But at times, of course, it has been harsh -- with the international press slamming the efforts of a country whose chances they say are nil.

In response, the team has launched its youth-based campaign across the world. Most recently, one of the volunteers connected with friends in his former country of residence: Germany. The result: the uniting of Egyptian and German youth both here and in Germany, in the spirit of the bid.

Their effort was contagious. LG Electronics in Egypt is contributing in its own way. "Everyone is working for the sake of Egypt and the volunteers are making the event sound great and made us optimistic that Egypt can win the bid," Kwon Shin Huge of LG told Al- Ahram Weekly. "So we will participate with a small idea and small contribution to stand by the Egyptians in their bid to 2010 World Cup."

That contribution will involve LG inviting people from Korea, particularly those who were involved in the Red Devils volunteer organisation for the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan for a "marathon" event. They are expected to support Egypt's bid and help impress Mong-Joon Chunk, one of the 24 FIFA committee members who will vote on 15 May. Invitees also include BBC, Fox News, Al-Jazeera, and other media representatives from around the world.

The efforts of the nation's youth have also inspired Al-Ahram Publication to come up with its own creative show of support by sending three cars, a volunteer in each car, on a trip around Europe. Each car, topped with a pyramid draped in the Egypt bid logo, will roam Europe until the FIFA decision on 15 May. On that day, having gathered as many supporters from around the continent as they could, the cars and their entourage will park outside the FIFA headquarters in Zurich and hoist with that same passion and fervour, banners announcing that "Egypt is always there."

You too can

help the bid!

If you believe in the ability of the Egyptians to host the World Cup, and you want to bring the World Cup to your doorstep. Or even if you are football fan around the world who would like to attend the world's most prestigious football event at the foot of the Pyramids, at the root of civilisation, you can help in one of several ways:

1. Talk, talk, talk, to everyone you meet and see and know, about Egypt and its bid.

2. Get on the Internet and e-mail everyone you know asking them too to voice their support.

3. Stop by the headquarters and pick up posters and stickers to distribute. Hang them up, stick them everywhere. Make the Egypt 2010 logo seen.

4. Send a postcard or e-mail to the FIFA committee saying "YES" to Egypt.

For more information and promotional material, call the headquarters hot line: 00 202-405 2701.

Or visit the headquarters at the Cairo Indoor Hall Complex -- beside the Olympic Swimming Pool.