By Duncan Mackay
December 8 – Japan’s Government has promised to support the country’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup but will not provide any state funding they said today.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s Cabinet today day approved a plan to cooperate with the bid, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said.
Hosting the Cup is “very meaningful for the promotion of sports and international friendship,” he said.
“The Government for its part will cooperate where necessary.”
But the plan rules out financial support for construction of infrastructure including stadiums, officials said.
The Government will cooperate in such areas as security, transportation and on immigration measures, Hirano said.
Japanese officials are currently contemplating dropping out of the race to host the 2018 World Cup and concentrate their efforts on bidding for just 2022, which is due to be awarded at the same meeting of FIFA’s ruling Executive Committee in Zurich on December 2, 2010.
Indonesia, Qatar and South Korea have already declared just for 2022 because they believe the 2018 tournament will be awarded to a European candidate.
Japan’s bid spokesman Tetsu Hirai said: ”We are considering making an announcement.”
A decision is expected by the end of this week.
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