Wednesday 8th February 2012 10.30am
Post your Events Wear your shirt to work for Back the Bid Week
England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup enters a crucial phase next week as an official FIFA delegation visits the country to assess England’s bid and its key locations and facilities. The visit coincides with the start of the last 100 days countdown before FIFA makes its final decision, and announces on Thursday 2nd December which countries will host the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.
In order to maximise support and raise awareness for the campaign at this important stage, the England 2018 team has launched a national ‘Back the Bid Week’, to run from Monday 23rd August – the day the FIFA inspection team touches down in the UK. The week is designed to provide fans with a range of activities they can get involved in to show their support for the England bid, and through public involvement, show the FIFA representatives just how much people want to see FIFA World Cup football in England.
One of the key initiatives which organisations and businesses are already getting behind in Sunderland and across the North East is ‘Wear Your Shirt to Work Day’. To demonstrate to FIFA the region’s love of the beautiful game and support for the England 2018 bid, people and organisations are being encouraged to wear their football shirts to work on Tuesday 24th August.
The shirts can be of any team, from international, league or local football and the day will provide organisations ranging from businesses to schools the chance to have fun and showcase their passion for the beautiful game.
Sunderland City Council and Sunderland AFC, joint partners in Sunderland’s 2018 bid, have told all of their employees that they can come into work wearing their favourite football shirts on Wear Your Shirt to Work Day.
Councillor Paul Watson, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Back the Bid Week is a great opportunity for people and organisations across the country to come together, give their support to the England 2018 bid and show the FIFA delegation how much passion we have here for football.
“The North East is renowned for its love of the sport and to have FIFA World Cup football in the region in 2018 would be a dream come true. It would also leave a powerful legacy for local people which would boost our economy and light up lives for generations to come.
“Sunderland City Council and Sunderland AFC employees have been given permission to wear their favourite football shirts to work on Tuesday 24th August and I urge everyone to get into the World Cup spirit and get behind this initiative to have some fun and send a clear message to FIFA that we are passionate about bringing the FIFA World Cup to England in 2018.”
Steve Walton, Sunderland AFC's chief executive, said: “Sunderland AFC employees are looking forward to getting involved and wearing their shirts to work on Tuesday 24th August. Not everyone will come in wearing a Sunderland shirt and that’s great thing. England’s 2018 bid and the FIFA World Cup itself are all about people coming together from across the globe and all walks of life to share their cultures in a festival of football that breaks down barriers, creates understanding and lights up lives. On a much smaller scale, that is what we want to achieve in Back the Bid Week and wearing our shirts to work will be a great way to come together across the region and show our passion for football and England 2018.”
Throughout Back the Bid Week, displays of support for England 2018 will be taking place up and down the country, with a raft of celebrities set to take part in the campaign, wearing their own favourite football shirts and taking the opportunity to send their messages of support to England 2018.
In the North East a galaxy of sports stars and celebrities have already rallied to the cause with the likes of Ashes winning batsman Paul Collingwood, all time cricketing great Sir Ian Botham, comedian Eddie Izzard, Sunderland AFC star Darren Bent, Newcastle United favourite Peter Beardsley and World Champion athlete Steve Cram all giving their backing to the region and the England 2018 bid.
Sunderland and Paraguay World Cup stars Cristian Riveros and Paulo Da Silva have thrown their weight behind the ‘Wear Your Shirt To Work Day’ in support of England’s 2081 FIFA World Cup bid.
Speaking about the initiative Paulo, pictured here in the actual shirt he wore in the FIFA World Cup finals this year, said: “I have been in England for almost a year and I’m amazed by the passion of the fans here. Both Cristian and myself played for our country in South Africa so we know all about the FIFA World Cup first-hand. I’m certain that England would be an amazing host country for the 2018 FIFA World Cup – everything you need is here, great stadiums, training facilities that are the best I have ever seen and millions of fans who simply love football.”
Chris Lines of Sunderland based company Press Ahead, said: “Press Ahead has been privileged to have a long association with Sunderland’s role in the England bid and as a business based in the city we fully appreciate the huge benefits that the World Cup would bring to the immediate area and wider region. Wear Your Shirt to Work Day is a great opportunity to demonstrate to FIFA just how much we love football in this part of the world, offering a tiny insight into how we could deliver a colourful, vibrant World Cup experience for all.
“We are actively encouraging our staff to come into work wearing their favourite football shirts and it should lead to quite a colourful turnout. Red and white will probably dominate, but that’s because along with Sunderland supporters, we also have staff who are fans of Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Fulham, and even Aberdeen.”
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