Overall Analysis - FIFA.com

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Overall Analysis
General Organisation It
Photo: Christian Liewig
Daniel Rupf,
Head of FIFA World Cup Events
Six years ago, the FIFA Executive Committee
decided to bestow the honour of organising
the 2002 FIFA World Cup upon Korea and
Japan – the first time ever that two countries
would share the task.
Back then, the sporting world regarded the
decision to be a risky one, and only a select
few believed in the success of the tournament.
There were many reasons for their reservations,
including the cultural and language barriers
between the two host nations, the logistical
problem posed by the co-hosting arrangement,
the number of venues (10 in Korea, 10
in Japan), the infrastructure that would be
required and the hosts’ lack of experience in
organising a major football tournament.
But as soon as FIFA had awarded the 2002
FIFA World Cup to Korea and Japan, everyone
concerned took to work immediately, displaying
great passion and enthusiasm. Korea
and Japan had a common goal – to fulfil the
Asian football dream: a perfect World Cup.
was vital for the whole football world
– the teams, referees, fans, television viewers,
commercial partners and FIFA delegation
– to experience an unforgettable Asian
football festival in a uniform package. To this
end, countless meetings were held in Korea,
Japan and Zurich, as well as many inspection
visits, meetings with politicians, working
visits, and numerous events, such as the
two draws in Busan and Tokyo, for example.
Workshops for LOC and FIFA members and
the 32 finalist teams were also organised,
as were friendly matches in the World Cup
venues and a “warm-up” tournament in the
shape of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2001,
which provided the host nations with priceless
experience in terms of organising a FIFA
tournament in Asia.
As representatives of the LOCs and more
than 32,000 volunteers, without whose help a
tournament of this magnitude would not have
been possible, our sincerest thanks go to the
KOWOC General Secretary, Choi Chang-Shin,
and his successor Moon Dong-Hoo, as well as
his JAWOC counterpart, Yasuhiko Endoh, and
the two tournament directors, Sam Ka (KOWOC)
and Junji Ogura (JAWOC), who all worked so