FIFA's recent decision to open a simultaneous bidding process for two World Cup tournaments came as a relief to countries dreaming of hosting the rally, Inas Mazhar reports The decision to launch a simultaneous double-bidding process for two World Cup tournaments was taken during the FIFA Executive Committee two-day meetings, held in Tokyo earlier this week and alongside the FIFA World Club World Championship. Interested associations will be invited to submit applications for either the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, or for both tournaments. For 2018, four of the six confederations will be eligible to host the tournament. CAF (South Africa) and CONMEBOL (Brazil) are not eligible as they will host the FIFA World Cups 2010 and 2014 respectively. Bid registration forms will be sent to all associations in January 2009, and the Executive Committee will appoint the two hosts at the climax of the bidding procedure in December 2010. Several weeks ago, while on a media tour during which Al-Ahram Weekly was invited to South Africa to witness the seriousness of the preparations the African hosts are currently making for the 2009 Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke pointed out that he intended to propose that the Executive Committee consider giving more time to the World Cup host nations. "I think the period of six years for a host nation to prepare itself to organise a major event such as the World Cup is not enough," Valcke told reporters at one of the media briefings at Johannesburg. "Some countries, especially developing countries, need more time to work on their infrastructure." Even countries with relevant infrastructure in place, Valcke added, need time to refurbish and develop. The FIFA secretary general was referring then to the fact that the South Africans were rushing to finalise their preparations in time. South Africa is currently implementing a new public transport system, including new trains, Metro and bus systems. South Africa has for the most part dependent on mini-buses instead. In addition the country is also tending to stadiums and other infrastructure, regarding telecommunications and security. "According to the experience we have here in South Africa, I will stress on approving this suggestion when the FIFA Executive committee meets in Tokyo next month," Valcke told the media teams in Johannesburg. "I guess the minimum should be about eight years. If we make the announcement for 2018 and 2022 in 2010, then the host nation would have eight years and the host nation for the following event in 2022 would have 12 years, which is perfect for any nation to build itself properly for a World Cup. FIFA is always looking for a perfect World Cup," Valcke concluded. The decision is expected to encourage countries to bid for future World Cup events since they will have more than enough time to prepare themselves. The World Cup usually involves huge amounts of money in the build-up process, which guarantees double or triple the amount of money spent as profits. The Executive Committee also re-confirmed their commitment to the protection of minors. The FIFA president believes that it is both an administrative and a moral duty of all member associations to protect minors. A sub-committee of the Players' Status Committee approved new regulations. All minors' transfers -- meaning, of players under the age of 18 -- must now be submitted to the sub-committee. In addition, academies must also register all their players with the member association of the respective territory. Apart from the World Cup, other decisions were also taken during the FIFA Executive Committee meetings. Among them was the decision that the participation in the 2012 London Olympic Games of a single team representing Great Britain would not affect the existing individual status of the four British football associations. The British associations will be invited to determine whether they wish for such a team to participate, and how it would be composed, with a view to presenting their proposal to the FIFA Executive Committee in March 2009. Following correspondence from Kuwait's head of state, FIFA will lift the suspension on a provisional basis until the 2009 FIFA Congress, upon the condition that national legislation is revised to fall in line with the FIFA statutes. The suspension of the Peruvian Football Association and the Samoa Football Soccer Federation was also lifted. FIFA's next Executive Committee meeting will take place in Zèrich in March 2009.
