tab5g
11 Nov 2008, 01:21 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ro-obama111008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
With Obama, America can score World Cup
By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
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“We would all like to believe sports and politics do not conflict, but we must be realistic,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati told Yahoo! Sports. “Certainly, there is a connection. When people talked about China hosting the Olympic Games, it was not independent of other concerns.
“Anything that enhances the perceived views of the United States can only be a positive for us.”
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To believe Obama’s popularity will not have an impact on the World Cup selection would smack of naivety, according to a high-placed FIFA source.
“How can it not make a difference?” said the source, who asked not to be named. “Now when you think of America, you don’t think George W. Bush or war. You think of this man, Obama, who has made history and given hope to millions.
“The men who vote on World Cup hosts are not immune to those same feelings. If the U.S. bid stacks up in terms of infrastructure and organization, then Obama could be a huge factor.”
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“We know we have got great infrastructure, stadiums and so on,” Gulati said. “We know we would stage a terrific World Cup and having people view us as a nation in a better way is a positive.
“It was very clear from the reaction around the world just how popular this result has been. This election has given a lot of people a reason to cheer. They are looking forward to changes in policy.
“We are waiting for the rules of the game to be announced regarding 2018 and 2022. We will go after it in an aggressive fashion.”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is expected to visit Obama at the White House next year, while Obama also is likely to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The iconic images that would be spawned by a meeting between Obama and Nelson Mandela would cast further positive vibes upon the sport.
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http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2008/11/ipt/1226381604.jpg
President-elect Barack Obama plays with a ball while waiting to watch his daughter Malia’s soccer game at a park in Chicago on July 1, 2008.
With Obama, America can score World Cup
By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
--------
“We would all like to believe sports and politics do not conflict, but we must be realistic,” U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati told Yahoo! Sports. “Certainly, there is a connection. When people talked about China hosting the Olympic Games, it was not independent of other concerns.
“Anything that enhances the perceived views of the United States can only be a positive for us.”
---------
---------
To believe Obama’s popularity will not have an impact on the World Cup selection would smack of naivety, according to a high-placed FIFA source.
“How can it not make a difference?” said the source, who asked not to be named. “Now when you think of America, you don’t think George W. Bush or war. You think of this man, Obama, who has made history and given hope to millions.
“The men who vote on World Cup hosts are not immune to those same feelings. If the U.S. bid stacks up in terms of infrastructure and organization, then Obama could be a huge factor.”
---------
---------
“We know we have got great infrastructure, stadiums and so on,” Gulati said. “We know we would stage a terrific World Cup and having people view us as a nation in a better way is a positive.
“It was very clear from the reaction around the world just how popular this result has been. This election has given a lot of people a reason to cheer. They are looking forward to changes in policy.
“We are waiting for the rules of the game to be announced regarding 2018 and 2022. We will go after it in an aggressive fashion.”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is expected to visit Obama at the White House next year, while Obama also is likely to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The iconic images that would be spawned by a meeting between Obama and Nelson Mandela would cast further positive vibes upon the sport.
---------
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/tools/med/2008/11/ipt/1226381604.jpg
President-elect Barack Obama plays with a ball while waiting to watch his daughter Malia’s soccer game at a park in Chicago on July 1, 2008.