WASHINGTON: From Boston to Hawaii and Seattle to Miami 27 urban hotbeds of soccer are competing to host matches in the 1994 World Cup Soccer Championship the globes largest single-sport tournament.
The US organizers cited these numbers this week in Washington to emphasize growing American interest in the tournament. They want the US congress to authorize the minting of commemorative coins to help finance the month-long 52-match tournament.
The delegation included Pele of Brazil regarded as the greatest soccer star of all time the co-chairman of World Cup USA 1994 Inc. and Shannon Higgins a member of the US national women’s team that will compete in the first womens World Cup in China in November.
It has been a privilege and! say that very humbly to have been a small part of helping soccer conquer America said Pele trailed by autograph hunters during a two-day visit climaxed with an appearance before the house sub-committee. on Consumer Affairs and Coinage.
Since he interrupted his retirement in 1975 to play for the New York Cosmos of the defunct North American soccer league said the number of people playing soccer in the United States has increased tenfold to 16 million people Soccer has now beacon me an American game the 51-yr-old super star asserted. Two hundred forty-five US congressmen have co-sponsored the bill authorizing the US mint to make and sell commemorative coins for 40 eight and one dollars the profits would help pay World Cup tournament costs estimated from $200-250 million Final passage of the bill is expected this summer
Charles G. Chale co-chairmen and chief executive officer of World Cup USA said coin sales would generate $67 million and other expenses would be met from ticket sales and concessions.
FIFA international soccer’s governing body and the US organizers will enter negotiations later this year for Canadian and US television rights said Scott Letellier of World Cup USA. FIFA has settled rights elsewhere.
Co-chairman Alan A Rothenberg said history’s largest live television audience of 13 billion viewed the 1990 World Cup final in Italy a year ago.
It doesn’t take much to recognize the great opportunity this event presents to showcase the United States not to mention the economic benefit from the influx of over one million foreign visitors who will come said Rothenberg a Los Angeles attorney.
Cale said the 27 communities bidding to host games at their local university and other sports arenas would be narrowed to about the end of the year
Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991
