Newcastle World Cup bid boosted by FIFA chief
Aug 21 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal
NEWCASTLE’S campaign to host World Cup matches in 2018 has been boosted by a FIFA chief.
Chief medical officer Professor Jiri Dvorak is in the city for a major sports medicine and science conference, being held at Northumbria University.
He told The Journal that FIFA recognised the passion England and the North East in particular had for football. He said: “Newcastle is an important football city, even though the club is no longer in the Premier League. It is a city with lots of things going for it.
“FIFA knows that England as a country and the North East has a real passion for football. But I can’t say what will happen with the bid.”
Prof Dvorak is one of dozens of sports medicine experts from around the globe who have converged on the North East for the International Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference.
The head of the US Anti Doping Agency and one of the greatest Paralympic athletes Great Britain has ever produced, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, are among those attending.
They will lecture on developments in medicine and technology for preventing and treating injuries.
Prof Dvorak said: “This is state-of-the-art technology and medicine for sport.
“A lot of the focus is on football as a major sport, but other sports are here as well. It should have great benefits for the future of sport.”
Among those at Northumbria University for the three-day event is head of science at Chelsea FC Nick Broad.
He said: “This is a great opportunity to learn and share information from some of the top people in the world in sports medicine. Things are being discussed here that will benefit teams in the future. This is the cutting edge of sports medicine.
“Some of the stuff talked about here today will benefit Team GB at the next Olympics as well as the England Football team, should we get to the World Cup next year.”
Conference organiser Ron Maughn, of Loughborough University, said: “This is a great thing for the North East.
“The region is already recognised for its sporting passion, but this is something extra to put it on the map.
“We chose Newcastle because of its history of sporting success, particularly with the athletes it has produced.
“It has been very successful so far and we are already looking to hold the conference here again next year.”
Back the bid at www.england2018bid.com
