Asian Cup News May 2014
Tickets on sale Tickets for the AFC Asian Cup are now on sale with venue packs selling first and then individual tickets. The LOC was pleased to announce family-friendly ticket prices to enable children to watch Asia s best footballers next summer for as little as $5 and families of four from just $40. Other highlights of the ticket prices include: Opening Ceremony and Australia v Kuwait match from $69 per adult; Other Socceroos group matches from $49 per adult; Quarter-finals from $29 per adult; Semi-finals from $49 per adult; and Final from $79 per adult. No ticket will cost more than $149 and that is for the best seats in the house when the Socceroos kick off Asia s biggest football tournament against Kuwait in Melbourne on 9 January 2015 and for top seats at the Final at Sydney s Stadium Australia on 31 January 2015. The LOC was joined at our Ticket Launch by Global Ambassador Alessandro Del Piero and other Australian football identities, including Socceroos coaching legend Rale Rasic and Paul Okon, former Socceroo and now Young Socceroos Coach and Olyroos Assistant Coach. We have deliberately kept prices affordable for families and the football community who will be keen to attend multiple matches. Venue packs offer football fans discounts to attend every match in each of the five host cities Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle. 2
Venue packs start from $99 for all four matches in Newcastle, including a Semi-final and the third place play-off, $109 for all seven matches in Canberra, $139 for all seven matches in Brisbane, $159 for all seven games in Melbourne and $229 for all seven matches in Sydney, which includes one Semi and the Final. Even the most expensive Category One tickets offer tremendous value - $149 for the Final, $149 for the Opening Match, $99 for other Socceroos group matches, $99 for a Semi-final, $69 for a Quarter-final and $30 for a non-socceroos group match. The final on-sale date is 2 June, when all tickets will be available to the general public. For tickets go to www.afcasiancup.com/tickets H.G. s on board H.G.Nelson has been revealed as the face of our TV advertising campaign. The proud, passionate and fearless commentator brings a touch of humour to the campaign. The ads, airing nationwide, feature cameo appearances by leading football identities including Asian Cup Global Ambassador Alessandro Del Piero, former Socceroos Brett Emerton, Mark Bosnich and Alan Davidson, Matildas star Kyah Simon, former Socceroos Coach Rale Rasic and Sydney FC s Ali Abbas, an Asian Cup winner with Iraq. To watch the first ad in the series go to http://youtu.be/zyuj4he2a18 Final Draw On 26 March the LOC, along with the AFC, hosted the most significant and prestigious event in the lead up to the Asian Cup at the Sydney Opera House, the Final Draw. More than 800 guests were present in the Concert Hall for the event, while more than 160 media representatives from at least 17 countries attended. 3
The Asian Cup was carried into the Opera House by two former winners Younis Mahmoud (Iraq 2007) and Takashi Fukunishi (Japan 2004) and was carried on to the stage by Socceroos legend Brett Emerton. The 16 qualifying nations were drawn into their four groups of four and the shape of the tournament was revealed. Australia continued its recent tradition of tough draws, with two-time champion Korea Republic being drawn with the Socceroos in Group A. The home side will face Kuwait in the tournament opener in Melbourne on 9 January, before facing Oman in Sydney on 13 January and Korea Republic in Brisbane on 17 January. Australia Korea Republic Oman Kuwait Uzbekistan Saudi Arabia China PR DPR Korea IR Iran UAE Qatar Bahrain Japan Jordan Iraq Challenge Cup winner Football fans were also able to see their messages of support on the south pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to celebrate the Final Draw. The pylon was lit up on two nights with football images from the qualifying nations. The feedback from media and stakeholders was that the Final Draw was a great success. Special thanks to the NSW Government and the team at Destination NSW for their tremendous support in ensuring the Final Draw was held at the Opera House and that it showed off Sydney and Australia to millions of people across Asia watching on television. 4
Challenge Cup The AFC Challenge Cup is underway in the Maldives to determine the final qualifier for the AFC Asian Cup. Palestine, Afghanistan and Philippines opened the tournament well and all made the Semi-finals. The winner will be known on 31 May. Education Launch On 28 April the LOC launched its Education Program at St Alban s East Primary School in Melbourne s East. The resource is now available for teachers across the country to download. The program focuses on years 3-6 with lessons in English, Mathematics, Art and Health and Physical Education and it reflects the Australian curriculum priority of Asia and Australia s engagement with Asia. The LOC worked with an Advisory Committee to develop the resource. Teachers now have free access to the resource that meets governments national curriculum priorities of Asia and also promotes the Asian Cup to school communities. Beyond 2015, it will form the cornerstone of FFA s curriculum activity to ensure there is a good education tool with a focus on football beyond the Asian Cup. About 150 schools have signed up to teach the resource to more than 22,700 students. We encourage you to let teachers know about the resource. For information or to register go to www.afcasiancup/education 5
CEO Michael Brown with Brisbane football volunteer Shane Jeynes, former Socceroo Craig Moore and Steve Minnikin MP, representing Minister Jann Stuckey Volunteer Launch The LOC has launched its Volunteer Program FC 2015 and is closing in on the target of 1,300 volunteers needed across our host cities. FC 2015 is Australia s newest football team and will perform a crucial role in the biggest tournament Australia has ever staged, without actually kicking a ball. FC 2015 is set to be the heart and soul of the Asian Cup and is a chance for volunteers to be part of our football club and our team. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and they can be part of history as Australia hosts the AFC Asian Cup for the first time. Volunteers will have the chance to work in a variety of areas, including competitions, travel and accommodation, protocol, media operations, training sites, IT, ceremonies, host city operations, medical and doping control, marketing, accreditation and venue operations. To register to become a volunteer go to www.afcasiancup.com/volunteers or send the Volunteer Program team an email at volunteers@asiancup2015.com.au. Match Australia On the morning of the Final Draw the Australian Government launched Match Australia the International Sports Business Program for the Asian Cup. Its aim is to connect Australian businesses with global partners through the Asian Cup. Match Australia is run by Austrade and provides the platform to welcome international partners to Australia during the tournament and to introduce them to Australian businesses offering world-class capabilities. In the lead up to the tournament, a series of international business networking events will be held across Japan, Republic of Korea, China and the Middle East. 6
These events will welcome international delegates to be part of Match Australia and show how they can enhance their engagement with Australian businesses. During the tournament, the Australian Government, in partnership with State and Territory Governments, will offer a range of business matching activities for international delegates. Two international events have now been held. Earlier this month the LOC combined with Austrade for Soccerex Asia in Jordan sponsoring the Café Australia networking hub (pictured right). About 750 delegates gathered to hear the latest issues in world football. Chief Operating Officer Mark Falvo updated Soccerex delegates and various international media agencies on Australia s preparations. Australia s Deputy Head of Mission, Naomi Viccars, welcomed delegates to the Café Australia and provided an overview of how Australia has earned a reputation for hosting world-class events, including major sporting events. The Victorian Government was also represented at the conference by John Butler, (Commissioner to Middle East, Africa and Turkey). In April, AFC Vice President and FFA Director Moya Dodd attended Austrade s MENA (Middle East and North Africa) event, which was the largest ever Australian promotional campaign held in the region. The event was hosted by Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb and Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development. 7
Pre-competition Camps Ballarat is the first city to secure an Asian Cup Pre-competition Camp, with Bahrain National Football signing a Memorandum of Understanding to base themselves there for 16 nights from 22 December 2015 to 7 January 2015. The team will train at Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility. Premier Denis Napthine made the announcement earlier this month. Ballarat undertook an international lobbying process involving the City of Ballarat, the Patron of their Back the Bid, Steve Moneghetti and the Victorian Agent General for the Middle East, John Butler. Campbelltown became the second Pre-competition Camp with Campbelltown Sports Stadium and the Chinese Football Association signing an agreement for the period of 29 December 2014 to 5 January 2015. Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres was joined by Campbelltown Mayor Clinton Mead and Vice Consul Xiaolei Ren and local MPs for the announcement. A number of other teams are in negotiation with Pre-competition Camp sites and the LOC expects more decisions to be made in the coming weeks. Canberra Balloon Festival AFC Asian Cup went sky high over the nation s capital as part of this year s Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Photo by Richard l Anson 8
The Asian Cup took flight over Canberra in March as part of the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. The LOC teamed up with the ACT Government to bring a giant football balloon from the United States for the festival. The Airball balloon was the star of the LOC s involvement at the Festival, which included having the Asian Cup trophy on display and kids having a kick around on our blow-up football pitch. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is one of the top four hot air ballooning events in the world and this year celebrated its 28th year. ACT Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr took a flight in the balloon and was joined in promoting the Asian Cup by Canberra United midfielder and former Matilda Caitlin Munoz. International journalist visits The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has organised a media familiarisation for seven journalists representing Asian media across Japan, China, Korea, UAE and Qatar, to coincide with the Socceroos World Cup farewell game against South Africa in Sydney on 26 May. The purpose of this visit was to promote the Asian Cup and to provide them with an overview of Australia s sporting capabilities. The LOC also hosted a delegation of six Korean journalists in Australia on an exchange for the Walkley Foundation. The LOC conducted a briefing with the journalists and provided photo opportunities with the Asian Cup. Thank You On behalf of the LOC I want to thank our many stakeholders and supporters, including the host jurisdictions governments and the commonwealth government. With less than 230 days until the competition begins there is still much work to do, but with your support I know we can deliver a truly world-class event. Michael Brown CEO Local Organising Committee AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 9