FFA Submits 2015 AFC Asian Cup Bid

On the back of a glowing report from the FIFA inspection team that visited Australia to examine its Bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Football Federation Australia (FFA) today submitted Australia's bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2015.

FFA Chairman Frank Lowy, AC, CEO Ben Buckley and Head of AFC Asian Cup 2015 Bid Rob Abernethy handed over the Bid Book to AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam at 9am at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

Lowy stated "we at the FFA are dedicated, honoured and privileged to make AFC Asian Cup bigger, better and more successful than the previous editions.

"It's my honour to present the Bid book and I can tell you that Australia is excited to host this event at all levels, sporting, government and the general public."

Bin Hammam said he appreciated the personal interest taken by Lowy in showcasing Australia's bid for the 16th installment of the tournament, stating "the three-day FIFA inspection visit to Australia ended only last night ... and the presence of Chairman Lowy and Mr Buckley, both of who were heavily involved with the inspections, here today proves the enthusiasm and commitment of FFA for the 2015 bid.

"It has been a win-win situation for the AFC and FFA since Australia joined the AFC in 2006. Now we are all reaping the benefits of this association."

The six-person FIFA inspection party left Australia this morning with the Head of Delegation Harold Mayne-Nicholls stating âas a conclusion and after checking the bid book presentation on site, we must conclude that this country seems to be prepared in all the aspects to organise the World Cup in 2022."

Australiaâs bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2015 has the full support of the Federal Government as well as the support of the governments of Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Victoria. The eight stadiums proposed in the Bid Book include Suncorp Stadium, Skilled Park, ANZ Stadium, Sydney Football Stadium, Parramatta Stadium, Canberra Stadium, Etihad Stadium and AAMI Park.

Lowy said the AFC Asian Cup was the biggest sporting event in Asia and would be a fantastic opportunity to showpiece Australia to Asia and the rest of the world, adding "FFA has undergone an exhaustive and highly detailed planning process, the results of which is included in a comprehensive Bid

Book document containing some 350 pages of information about how Asia's largest sporting event would be conducted across Australia.

"Australia has a long history of hosting fantastic sporting events and the benefits for Australia to host an event of this kind will not only leave a strong legacy for football in Australia, but also cement Australiaâs place in the Asian economic community."

Referring to the AFC Asian Cup as a growing television spectacle, Lowy stated "more than 655 million viewers tuned in to the 2007 AFC Asian Cup and 748 million viewed the 2004 edition in China.

"We expect a massive increase in the number of viewers for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup especially considering China and India are both in the tournament at the same time for the first time in its history."

Australia is currently the sole bidder for the AFC Asian Cup 2015.

1st July 2010 - BUCKLEY DEFENDS AUSTRALIA’S FIFA WORLD CUP BID

19th May 2010 - WORLD CUP STADIA AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO COST $2.48 BILLION

12th March 2010 - QATAR’S BIN HAMMAM FACES TOUGH FIGHT FOR FIFA TOP JOB

3rd February 2009 - AUSTRALIA ENTERS RACE FOR FIFA WORLD CUP

4th November 2008 - A-LEAGUE WILL MEET ASIAN CRITERIA