July 30 – Australia has moved a step closer to securing the rights to host the 2015 Asian Cup finals after formally lodging its bid.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has delivered Australia’s bid book to Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam at a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.
Australia appears certain to host the event as it is bidding unopposed for the 16th edition of the tournament.
“It has been a win-win situation for the AFC and FFA since Australia joined the AFC in 2006,” bin Hammam said.
“Now we are all reaping the benefits of this association.
“I assure them that their bid will have my recommendation when it goes before the AFC Executive Committee.”
The AFC Executive Committee is expected to make a decision on the hosting rights at its meeting next January, which coincides with the Asian Cup in Qatar.
Australia are grouped with the Republic of Korea, India and Bahrain for the tournament.
“We at the FFA are dedicated, honoured and privileged to make AFC Asian Cup bigger, better and more successful than the previous editions,” Lowy said.
“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.
“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 Australia’s place in the Asian economic community.”