Bin Hammam courted by King of Belgium

March 17 – Belgium’s King and Prime Minister have rolled out the red-carpet for Mohamed Bin Hammam, the President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), to try to help the campaign for the country’s joint World Cup bid with the Netherlands.

Bin Hammam first met Prime Minister Yves Leterme at the Prime Minister’s residence and then met King Albert II at the Royal Castle of Laeken, the King’s official home.

During his meeting with Leterme, Hammam also met with several members of the Belgium/Netherlands bid for 2018, including Director General Alain Courtois, who is also a Member of the Belgian Parliament.

The AFC President, who is also a member of ruling FIFA’s Executive Committee who will vote on December 2 in Zurich which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, was also given a tour of the Belgian Parliament (Palais de la Nation).

The King spoke enthusiastically of Belgium’s joint bid with the Netherlands.

Bin Hammam said: ”It was a big honour to be received by His Majesty the King of the Belgians.

“It was a good opportunity to learn in detail from two of the leading champions of the bid about the level of preparedness and commitment of the two countries to host the FIFA World Cup.”

Michael Van Praag, the President of the Dutch FA (Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond – KNVB), also joined Bin Hammam for the royal audience.

Bin Hammam said: ”The whole of Asia remembers the passion and fervour generated by Japan and Korea when they together co-hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

“The architects of this bid are well aware of the challenges they face but what impressed me was their strong determination to overcome the odds.

“They have their own successful experience of co-hosting the Euro 2000.”