Support of the 2018/2022 Fifa World Cup? Bid
Adopted at the in 2010
WHEREAS, the United States Men's National Soccer Team is competing with honor in the FIFA World Cup? in South Africa from June 11 to July 11, 2010;
WHEREAS, the United States has now qualified for six consecutive FIFA World Cup? competitions, ranking the men's team among the world's finest and signaling an era of unprecedented popularity and historic growth for the sport of soccer throughout our nation;
WHEREAS, the FIFA World Cup? competition staged in the United States in 1994 served as a catalyst for said popularity and growth of the game, as well as the introduction of Major League Soccer, America's national first division professional soccer league;
WHEREAS, the United States Soccer Federation has appointed the USA Bid Committee to campaign for the return of the FIFA World Cup? to the United States in the years 2018 or 2022;
WHEREAS, the spirit of the USA Bid Committee's campaign is to further grow and celebrate the game of soccer in a United States of more than 300 million diverse people, representing all nations that gather every four years to compete in or follow the FIFA World Cup?;
WHEREAS, the ultimate goal of a FIFA World Cup? in the United States in 2018 or 2022 is to bring together people of all nations under one banner of peace, friendship and spirited but fair competition on the stage of the world's most popular sport and athletic event;
WHEREAS, 18 American cities have been named by the USA Bid Committee as candidates to serve as hosts to FIFA World Cup? matches should the United States be named as the host country for either the 2018 or 2022 competition;
WHEREAS, these 18 cities are represented in the official host nation application by the United States to FIFA, which will determine on December 2, 2010, the two nations that will serve as hosts to the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup? competitions;
WHEREAS, each of the 18 candidate cities already holds a place in the international community as a welcoming example of diversity and eagerly awaits being ambassadors to visiting athletes, officials, and guests;
WHEREAS, these 18 communities and more throughout the United States fully represent the essence of the USA Bid Committee's message to FIFA and the entire global soccer community, ' the Game is in US';'
WHEREAS, all Americans can play their part and increase our country's chance of being named host of the FIFA World Cup? in 2018 or 2022 by adding his or her name to the online petition found at GOUSABID.COM;
WHEREAS, we agree that it is now time to build on prior success and bring the FIFA World Cup? back to the United States and, that by hosting in 2018 or 2022, we can once again invite the world to share in our love of the game and inspire a new generation of soccer enthusiasts in the United States;
WHEREAS, the USA Bid Committee and the United States Soccer Federation encourage outreach to the Executive Branch and Congress to ensure the full participation of the United States government in the pursuit to win the privilege of hosting the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup?;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the U.S. Conference of Mayors supports the United States Men's National Soccer Team as it competes in the 2010 FIFA World Cup? in South Africa; encourages the United States government and the American people to support the United States FIFA World Cup? Bid Committee as it competes for the privilege to host the FIFA World Cup? in 2018 or 2022; and welcomes opportunities identified by the USA Bid Committee for all United States Mayors to advance these efforts.