S. Korean president meets FIFA head for 2022 World Cup bid

S Korea-World Cup bid


By Lee Chi-dong
ZURICH, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak met with FIFA
president Sepp Blatter Wednesday to drum up his support for South Korea's bid to
host the 2022 World Cup finals, Lee's office said.

"I am very glad to meet you today and thank you," Lee told Blatter at the start
of the meeting at the headquarters of the world football governing body in this
Swiss city.
Blatter replied, "It's my honor to see the head of state of the Republic of Korea
at the FIFA house, definitely."
After exchanging formal greetings in front of media, they had about a one-hour
closed-door meeting, joined by South Korea's ruling party chief, Rep. Chung
Mong-joon, who also serves as vice president and an executive committee member of
FIFA, according to the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.
"President Lee asked for President Blatter's cooperation and backing for South
Korea's bid to host the 2022 World Cup," it said in a press release.
Lee explained in detail about South Korea's experience and know-how from
co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup, its well-established football infrastructure,
the government's strong support and the people's aspirations for hosting the
event again, Cheong Wa Dae added.
It claimed Lee's activity has helped create a "favorable condition" for South
Korea's hosting of the 2022 games. Last year, South Korea declared its desire to
host the 2022 games and launched a bidding committee led by Han Sung-joo, a
former foreign minister and one-time ambassador to Washington.
But South Korea faces stiff competition. Bidding countries include the U.S.,
Japan, Australia, England, Qatar, Indonesia, and Russia. Spain and Portugal are
seeking to co-host the games and so are Belgium the Netherlands, according to
FIFA officials.
South Korea and Qatar declared their bid for the 2022 event only, while the other
countries applied for either of the two tournaments.
The FIFA is scheduled to select the host nations for the 2018 and 2022
tournaments in December.
South Korean football officials expect a European country will be chosen for the
2018 event, meaning that South Korea likely will compete with non-European
nations for the 2022 games. The 2010 World Cup will be held in South Africa,
while Brazil is the host in 2014.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)

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