News release: Courtesy of Leicester City Council Press Office 24/06/2009
THE CAMPAIGN to bring the FIFA World Cup to Leicester in 2018 received a boost today (24th) as local legend Gary Lineker gave his backing to the bid.
The former Leicester City striker – and passionate City fan – joined representatives of the city’s bid team at the Walkers Stadium to urge everyone in the county to support Leicester’s World Cup aspirations.
“As someone who was lucky enough to have played in two World Cups, I know that it’s no exaggeration to call the tournament the biggest event in the world,” he said. “Millions of people around the world will be watching – and it would be absolutely brilliant if all those eyes could be on Leicester.
“My home town has proved that it can rise to the big occasion, putting on fantastic national events like the Special Olympics – and I also know that the football fans in Leicester are amongst the most passionate in the country.
“For those two reasons alone, Leicester would be the perfect host city for the 2018 World Cup – and that’s why I’m proud to back Leicester’s bid, and why I’m urging everyone in the county to back it too.”
Lee Hoos, chief executive of Leicester City Football Club, hosted the official launch event at the Walkers Stadium today (24th).
“We would love to welcome the World Cup to the Walkers Stadium,” he said. “The Brazil/Jamaica friendly we hosted in 2004 was a huge success and has whetted the public’s appetite for international football.
“If we hear in December that the FA has selected Leicester as one of the host cities, we’d be delighted. It would be the icing on the cake for the club as we celebrate our 125th anniversary.”
Children from local schools, and teams representing the city’s grassroots footballing community, joined officials from the bid team for the launch.
Lancaster School’s under-15 league winning team and Folville Junior, winners of the under-11 Cup, were there to show their support – and Westerby Cup winners Barwell and Unibond League team Quorn were also invited.
The two Leicestershire teams were mentioned by TV presenter Adrian Chiles at the launch of England’s bid at Wembley in May. He demonstrated England’s huge enthusiasm for football by telling the assembled VIP guests – and a TV audience of millions – that 905 people had turned up to watch a recent game between Barwell and Quorn.
That support for football now needs to be harnessed, as Leicester bids to collect more online votes than any other prospective host city.
And although the public vote alone won’t secure Leicester’s place amongst the winners, local enthusiasm will be a major factor for the FA when it chooses its partner cities for England’s bid.
By logging on to www.england2018bid.com and selecting ‘Leicester’ as their preferred host city, local people can show the FA what it would mean to them, if the biggest event in the world were to come to Leicester.
City council leader Cllr Ross Willmott – who’s leading the bid – is confident that the Leicester public will get behind the bid:
“We need to prove to the FA that we really want the World Cup to come to Leicester,” he said.
“What we need now is for every business, every school and every individual in the county to show that they’re behind us by voting for Leicester on the England 2018 website.
“With the backing of the public and the local media, and with our unique combination of diversity, community spirit and passion for sport, Leicester’s selection as a host city can only enhance England’s bid.”
Anyone without internet access who’d like to vote for Leicester – or find out more about the bid – can visit their local library, where computers can be used free of charge by library members.
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