2018 bid visit continues

The inspectors were due to have several presentations in London this morning followed by a boat journey along the River Thames.

The party will fly over a number of proposed stadiums for 2018 including the new Olympic Stadium, Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, White Hart Lane, Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes, Nottingham Forest's City Ground and Elland Road in Leeds.

They will arrive in the north-east for more presentations in the afternoon before visits to the Stadium of Light and St James' Park on Wednesday.

The delegation kicked off their visit yesterday with a Downing Street reception where the deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg called the World Cup bid "unbeatable".

They then went by tube on the Jubilee Line to Wembley Stadium to inspect the venue and meet England head coach Fabio Capello.

Clegg told the delegation: "I believe this is an exceptionally strong, unbeatable bid. We in this Government believe in it, we hope that you will believe in it."

England 2018 chief executive Andy Anson also made a speech of greeting where, perhaps mindful of rivals Russia's stress on bringing the World Cup to a new country, spoke of how England hosting the 2018 tournament would benefit the world.

Anson said: "Just like FIFA, we believe in the power of football to open up new territories.

"Our new territory extends beyond any national boundary and directly benefits every country - each of FIFA's 208 member associations.

"A tournament in England will deliver a global legacy that will produce greater football and social benefits for more people than ever before."

And with a nod to John F Kennedy's inaugural presidential speech Anson added: "We will show that a FIFA World Cup in England is not just about what it can do for England, but about what a FIFA World Cup in England can do for the rest of the world."

The FIFA team will head to Manchester on Wednesday afternoon, where they will finish their tour on Thursday.

Enter URL:

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

Have you tried new the Independent Digital Edition apps?

i100: How to take a wild career break and come back more employable

Fancy a wacky sabbatical?

Gambia i100 Gym for free

RICS Prizes & offers Business videos

A warm welcome to the smiling coast of Gambia

The Gambia is fast becoming known as a winter sun haven

Wild Career Break i100 Gym for free

RICS Prizes & offers Business videos

i100: Who makes your world a better place?

Tweet us the people who deserve some recognition to @thei100 with the hashtag #everydayhero and tell us why.

Wild Career Break Gambia Gym for free

RICS Prizes & offers Business videos

Turn Blue Monday Red

On officially the most depressing day of the year, Fitness First opens its doors to everyone for free. Get energised, focused and upbeat.

Wild Career Break Gambia i100

RICS Prizes & offers Business videos

Build yourself a brighter future

Chartered surveyors will be critical to shaping our new world

Wild Career Break Gambia i100

Gym for free Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Wild Career Break Gambia i100

Gym for free RICS Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Wild Career Break Gambia i100

Gym for free RICS Prizes & offers

Independent Dating

Show Me

Between: and

Location:

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Iraq invasion 2003: The bloody warnings six wise men gave to Tony Blair as he prepared to launch poorly planned campaign

What the six wise men told Tony Blair

Months before the invasion of Iraq in 2003, experts sought to warn the PM about his plans. Here, four of them recall that day

25 years of The Independent on Sunday

The stories, the writers and the changes over the last quarter of a century

Homeless Veterans appeal

As head of The Soldiers' Charity, Martin Rutledge has to temper compassion with realism. He tells Chris Green how his Army career prepared him

Wu-Tang Clan and The Sexual Objects offer fans a chance to own the only copies of their latest albums

Smash hit go under the hammer

It's nice to pick up a new record once in a while, but the purchasers of two latest releases can go a step further - by buying the only copy

Geeks who rocked the world: Documentary looks back at origins of the computer-games industry

The geeks who rocked the world

A new documentary looks back at origins of the computer-games industry

Belle & Sebastian interview: Stuart Murdoch reveals how the band is taking a new direction

Belle & Sebastian is taking a new direction

Twenty years ago, Belle & Sebastian was a fey indie band from Glasgow. It still is – except today, as prime mover Stuart Murdoch admits, it has a global cult following, from Hollywood to South Korea