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:

Voices

The Independent's Christmas charity auction: Part two

auctionThe first 23 lots have now gone. But there are 22 more still up for grabs

News

Megyn Kelly said it's a 'fact' that both Jesus and Santa Claus are white

It's a 'fact' that Jesus and Santa Claus are white, says this Fox presenter

people

Arts & Entertainment

Kanye West found himself at the centre of a critical storm over the weekend after he apparently claimed to be “the next Mandela” during a radio interview

Kanye West is as 'misguided as they come'

musicPolice chief rejects rappers' claims that his work is as dangerous as law enforcement or military service

Arts & Entertainment

Adam Handling, Scott Davies and Steven Edwards will compete in tonight's final of Masterchef: The Professionals

MasterChef: The Professionals - who has been crowned winner?

tvSpoiler alert: Find out the result of a heated final show

Arts & Entertainment

As usual, The Beatles 'did it first' with their gig on the roof of Apple HQ on January 30, 1969. Nobody on the ground could see anything and the sound was reportedly a disaster, but this was big, super-cool news at the time.

All You Need Is.... a limited release

music

Beatles rush out 'bootleg' album to defy EU copyright law

Voices

Pretty ornaments, despicable slaughter: The ugly truth behind ivory

elephant appeal

Arts & Entertainment

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in a scene from 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug'

'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

film

Geoffrey Macnab reviews The Desolation of Smaug - the meat in Peter Jackson's Hobbit sandwich

Arts & Entertainment

Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act? Step up George Clooney

film

Harvey Weinstein reveals his secret weapon on-set

Life & Style

Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

life

Now that an oil trader's drinking has got him sacked, will we all have to make do with an afternoon latte?

Arts & Entertainment

Chiwetel Ejiofor (left) and Idris Elba have been nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes

Black British actors lead Globes nominees

film

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba get nods for Best Actor, which no black Brit has ever won

News

It’s not rocket science

peopleWhat advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?

Arts & Entertainment

Peri Cochin, organiser of the raffle 'One Picasso for 100 Euros', stands in front of the goauche 'L'Homme au Gibus, 1914' (Man with Opera Hat) by painter Pablo Picasso

The $100 Picasso

art

Auction house to give away $1m masterpiece in charity raffle - and tickets are only $100 each

News

A CGI image of Pinnacle tower at 200 Bishopsgate

London to reach Pinnacle as 'impossible' skyscraper plans get green light

news

Life & Style

Victoria is the first Australian state to pass laws regarding sexting, making it illegal to pass shared content onto third parties without consent.

Australian state cracks down on distributing 'sexts' without consent

tech

Extras

10 best lingerie sets

indybest

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

Five things to do for a fiver in London this December

This Christmas, you can park in one of NCP’s ten most popular London car parks for just £5 for six hours of parking at selected times during weekdays and the weekend.

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

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

NCP Parking Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

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

NCP Parking Prizes & offers

Independent Dating

Show Me

Between: and

Location:

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

The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

John Carlin, author of ‘Invictus’, reflects on a momentous week that has shown South Africa at its best - but also, all too often, at its worst

It’s not rocket science

What advice would David Cameron give to his younger self?

Delight for collectors as Beatles release new album to defy EU copyright law

The album features 59 previously unissued recordings including outakes

'An old-fashioned romp, pure cinematic escapism'

Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

For all its use of 3D and digital technology, this is an old-fashioned romp at heart – a piece of pure cinematic escapism

Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act?

Step up George Clooney

Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

To his cost, ex-Glencore trader Andrew Kearns has found being hungover a sackable offence, but the liquid lunch shaped many a day in days gone by

Black British actors lead Globes nominees

Golden Globes 2014

Black British actors Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead nominations

A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

They came and waited patiently in their thousands for a momentary glimpse of their hero, Nelson Mandela

We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we fetishise motherhood

Grace Dent

We want women to sit at boardroom tables – but we also fetishise motherhood

Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

The Supreme Court judgment has profound consequences, meaning it could gain charitable status – and opens the floodgates to claims by other organisations

Your Money, Money, Money please

Abba ask fans for £195 pledges on crowd-funding website

Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

The two thirty minute films have not been seen for 50 years

Volunteering is for life, not just for Christmas

Full of the joys and want to help your fellow man? Volunteering in December isn't the way to go about it

Christmas hits: Jingle sells

As Mariah Carey and Noddy Holder rake in the royalties from their classics, why hasn't there been a decent festive hit for nearly 20 years?

Is this the end of the road for the postman?

The postman on his bike could become a thing of the past thanks to Royal Mail's plans to phase out deliveries on two wheels. No wonder posties are in a spin

2018 bid visit continues

Latest in Sport

Caption competition

Sport blogs

SPONSORED FEATURES

Independent Dating

Day In a Page

The death of Nelson Mandela has exposed the failings of his successors

It’s not rocket science

Delight for collectors as Beatles release new album to defy EU copyright law

Review: The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

Who dares tell Meryl Streep how to act?

Last orders: has the liquid lunch had its day?

Golden Globes 2014

A last chance to offer last respects for Madiba

Grace Dent

Church versus state: Scientology faces unholy war after court ruling

Your Money, Money, Money please

Lost Peter Sellers films found in skip to be screened at festival

Volunteering is for life, not just for Christmas

Christmas hits: Jingle sells

Is this the end of the road for the postman?