Football to save Aussie Financial Crises!

SOCCER could be the unlikely saviour of the flagging Australian tourism industry, according to research by the NSW Parliamentary Library.

The article below was in the Australian, written by the Political Reporter. Slowly we're moving from the sports pages and people are seeing the possibilities for the Country through the game.

This can only be a good thing for the game in the coming years. Me, I got my tickets and I'm off to Tokyo for the Japan Australia World Cup Qualifier.

Why?

To help solve the Japanese financial crises of course..and that's the sort of guy I am.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...013404,00.html


Football focus to kick tourism goals



Imre Salusinszky, NSW political reporter | December 03, 2008


SOCCER could be the unlikely saviour of the flagging Australian tourism industry, according to research by the NSW Parliamentary Library.

Investment in soccer could also boost Australia's exporting and diplomatic efforts, thanks to the surging popularity of the sport in Asia.

Researcher and economist John Wilkinson says universities could leverage Australia's membership of the Asian Football Confederation by offering training programs for Asia's new breed of football administrator.

Dr Wilkinson estimates the 2018 World Cup could contribute $5.4 billion to the local economy if Football Federation Australia is successful in its bid to host the Cup, which runs for five weeks and is considered the biggest sporting event in the world.

He also says soccer could be the avenue for deepening cultural contacts with the region.

"Encouraging more Asians to travel to Australia (given the rise in Asian overseas travel) necessitates getting Asians to know Australia better," he writes.

"One way to do this could be taking advantage of the surge in popularity of football in Asia ... there appears to be a significant interest in football in China and this could be taken advantage of, to encourage even more Chinese tourists to visit Australia."

Dr Wilkinson credits Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corporation, owner of The Australian, with igniting Asia's passion for soccer by beaming in European games via BSkyB and its affiliates since 1989.

The 2002 World Cup, which was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, was watched by 11.1billion viewers in Asia, compared with 4.1 billion in Europe.

Events NSW research director Rob van den Honert agreed that soccer generally, and the 2018 World Cup in particular, could boost Australia's diplomatic and trade efforts in Asia, comparing the effect with the role played by rugby in trans-Tasman relations.

With the Rudd Government already pledging $32 million for the development of soccer over the next four years, Mr van den Honert agreed that established codes such as Australian football would be "terrified" if the round-ball game received even more public support.