Consul-general Anita Butler visited the federation to discuss Australia’s bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and other relevant topics, such as Australia’s development action plan for the Pacific region.
FTF President and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) President Reynald Temarii could not be in attendance as he is in South Africa for the OFC Congress and FIFA World Cup.
But Ms Butler met instead with FTF general secretary Vaiata Friedman, FIFA development officer for Oceania Vairani Davio, and Billy Viatoare, personal assistant to President Temarii.
Noelline Parker, the chief executive of Tahiti’s 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaign, was also present for the discussion.
The main talking point was why it is important for Australia to win the hosting rights for the FIFA World Cup and how hosting the tournament in Australia can have a positive impact on the Pacific region.
Since 2009, the country has been bidding for either the 2018 or 2022 tournament but last week decided to narrow its efforts down to just the 2022 event.
“We have been in discussion with FIFA for months and it is that trusting relationship with the leadership of the governing body that has caused us to focus on 2022,” Football Federation Australia (FFA) Chairman Frank Lowy says.
“We will now leave the field for 2018 to European contenders.”
Ms Butler is based in Noumea, New Caledonia, and last came to French Polynesia at the beginning of 2009.
She says the support of the Australian government towards FFA’s bid is very strong because it is highly motivated to bring the event to the Pacific.
FFA is a founding member of the OFC but moved to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in January 2006. The federation made the switch in the hope that it would improve the standard of Australian football and give the national team a better chance of qualifying for world cups.
Ms Butler believes sport, and football in particular, is a strong tool for economical and social growth. She says hosting the event will promote the Pacific all around the world and have a massive impact on the Oceania region.
As well as visiting the FTF headquarters in Pirae, Ms Butler also touched base with French Polynesia President Gaston Tong Sang and assembly speaker Oscar Temaru. They discussed trade, politics and the financial aid granted by Australia to many Pacific countries.
For more on Tahiti football visit www.ftf.pf