By David Owen
November 12 – A glittering array of VIPs is expected in Zurich next month for the climax of the high-stakes battles for the right to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
With just three weeks of this singular race left to run, a list of the top Governmental dignitaries expected to attend from the 11 countries involved has emerged.
Though it is almost certainly not comprehensive, this list tells you all you need to know about how seriously competing countries are taking the competition.
In the Europe-oriented 2018 race, UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William of Wales will enter the fray for England against equally impressive representations from their three opponents.
The joint Dutch/Belgian bid, for example, is set to incorporate no fewer than four Ministers, including two Prime Ministers: Yves Leterme of Belgium and Mark Rutte, his Dutch counterpart.
For Russia, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov is currently the top dignitary listed, but his boss Vladimir Putin is also widely expected to attend.
Similarly, though the top Spanish and Portuguese officials listed are at present their respective secretaries of state for sport, an appearance by Spain’s Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero would come as no surprise.
The final stages of the more eclectic 2022 contest are expected to be graced by an Emir, a former US President, another Prime Minister and perhaps the President of South Korea and the US vice president.
The best-known figure is undoubtedly former US President Bill Clinton, in his function as honorary chairman of the US bid committee.
Washington’s top Governmental official is listed as “to be determined”, but could, it is thought, be Joe Biden, the current vice president.
Prime minister Julia Gillard will be there for Australia, while former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is listed for the Japanese bid that is widely seen as a long shot.
For Qatar, the Emir Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani is expected, along with members of the Gulf state’s royal family.
For the South Korean bid, President Lee Myun Bak is “to be confirmed”.
Delegations have been set at 30 individuals for single bids and 40 for joint bids.
The decisive votes by FIFA Executive Committee members are scheduled to take place on December 2 in Zurich.
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