GIO Stadium Canberra to get facelift for AFC Asian Cup

Facilities "fit for royalty" will be installed at GIO Stadium Canberra before the Asian Cup kicks off next year.

Canberra will host six group games and a quarter final during the tournament, starting with the clash between Korea Republic v Oman on 10th January.

Canberra will also host the Qatari team's pre-tournament training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport from late December.

Asian Cup Organising Committee Chief Executive Michael Brown recently advised that all Asian Cup venues would be getting upgrades worth around $2.5 million on average, advising "that's the cost of upgrading the IT, upgrading the wireless networks, building the media centre. When you've got 600 or 700 media, this stadium wasn't built for that in its initial phase.

"This of course is funded by Government, so the government-funded event allows us to channel money back as a legacy to the stadium."

Brown said the funding will also go to accommodating visiting dignitaries, adding "we'll be hosting kings and queens of countries, so building and developing VVIP facilities, that will remain as an addendum to the stadium."

The Qatari team's two-week camp is also expected to provide a boost to the local economy, concluding "they'll be utilising our world class facilities, and paying for the privilege, so it's great economically, socially, and sporting wise."

GIO Stadium Canberra will revert to its pre naming rights name of Canberra Stadium under the AFC Asian Cup's 'clean stadiums' policy during the event.

AFC Asian Cup tickets can be purchased at www.afcasiancup.com/tickets

3rd September 2014 - AFC ASIAN CUP MAKES ITS PITCH FOR WORLD-CLASS PLAYING SURFACES