The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups™, has launched www.JoinTheWave.nl and www.JoinTheWave.be. Fans of the Dutch and Belgian national teams can create a virtual Wave with the most colourful supporters in international football by uploading their videos to the site.
JoinTheWave is a website by and for the supporters of Oranje and the Red Devils. Together they can create their own virtual Wave by uploading and sharing their home-made Wave videos. In doing so, the fans, who are very popular in their own countries and abroad where they are considered the best football fans in the world, show the essence of a FIFA World Cup™: a celebration of football by fans and football players.
JoinTheWave is an initiative of The HollandBelgium Bid and its partners. The website will remain online up to and including 2 December – the date on which FIFA announces who will organize the 2018 and 2022 World Cups™. All the videos uploaded in Belgium and the Netherlands are linked with one another in one big virtual wave and can be easily shared on popular social media sites in Belgium and the Netherlands such as Hyves, Twitter, Facebook and Netlog.
Big names endorse The Wave
As Ambassador of The HollandBelgium Bid, tennis player Justine Henin is a staunch defender of the fans of the Red Devils and Oranje: “Major sporting events provide a stimulus in every possible way. But top sports and top fans go hand in hand. Should the FIFA World Cup™ come to Belgium and the Netherlands, then this would be a great gift for our fans. At any rate it is a great idea to have football fans create a joint wave in light of our bid. That is why I am also joining in.”
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a former captain of Oranje, calls on football fans to join in the fun: “During the last FIFA World Cup™ I experienced first-hand how important the support of our fans is. They contribute to a great atmosphere, inside but also outside the stadium. And people do notice. The FIFA World Cup™ should come to our countries, precisely for all the football fans out there.”
Jean-Marie Pfaff, a former goalkeeper for the Red Devils, says:“I know what happens to a country when a FIFA World Cup™ is held there. I would love to experience those feelings and that enthusiasm in Belgium and the Netherlands. I am glad that we can use this online initiative to show FIFA that we have the best fans, who will welcome football players and football fans from all over the world with open arms and ensure that they will enjoy a fantastic FIFA World Cup™.”
Brussels, 9 August 2010 – The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™, has today received the FIFA inspection team in Brussels. The Bid officials and bid ambassadors Justine Henin, Jean-Marie Pfaff and Paul Van Himst welcomed the team at the Brussels Expo-Atomium.
The five members of the FIFA team will travel through Belgium and The Netherlands to inspect the stadiums, accommodation and infrastructure for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup. Harold Mayne-Nicholls, head of the FIFA inspection team, made a statement in Brussels. He mentioned that he was impressed to be welcomed by sports stars with such an international allure.
International bid ambassador Justine Henin welcomed the delegation on behalf of The HollandBelgium Bid. She emphasized Belgium’s and the Netherlands’ great experience in organizing major sports events, including EURO 2000.
The inspection team is travelling until Thursday 12 August to Antwerp, Eindhoven, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, amongst other locations.
Eindhoven (NL), 06 August 2010 – The FIFA Inspection Committee that will be arriving in Belgium on Monday to inspect stadiums, accommodation and infrastructure for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™ will be welcomed at Brussels Expo (Palace 5) by The Bid’s ambassadors Justine Henin, Jean-Marie Pfaff and Paul Van Himst, and members of The HollandBelgium Bid management team.
Ruud Gullit, The HollandBelgium Bid President, will be joining the delegation as of Wednesday. Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the head of the FIFA Inspection Committee, will make a brief statement in Brussels.
The FIFA Inspection Committee will then tour through Belgium and the Netherlands and visit a number of cities including Antwerp, Eindhoven, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. There will be several video and photo opportunities during receptions with Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers Leterme (Lambermont, Tuesday at 10.00) and Balkenende (Buitenhof 19, Wednesday at 15.45), and during visits to the PSV and Amsterdam ArenA stadiums (Wednesday, 9.00 and Thursday 14.30 respectively).
Harold Mayne-Nicholls will make a closing statement in the Amsterdam ArenA which will be followed by a press conference with Ruud Gullit and Harry Been, The HollandBelgium Bid President and CEO respectively.
Eindhoven, 26 July 2010 - The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™, welcomes the FIFA inspection team from 9 August to 12 August. This team will inspect the stadiums, accommodation, infrastructure, etc.
Programme of the FIFA inspection team:
Monday 9 August
- Arrival in Brussels at Zaventem
- Visit to Brussels Expo
- Press release and photo opportunity on the site in front of Brussels Expo at 16.00
Tuesday 10 August
- Meeting in Brussels town hall
- Visit Belgian Prime Minister
- Visit base camp and training accommodation near Brussels
- Visit to Antwerp
Wednesday 11 August
- Visit to Eindhoven Philips Stadium
- Visit to Rotterdam De Kuip
- Visit Dutch Prime Minister
Thursday 12 August
- Visit to Amsterdam hotels
- Visit to RAI
- Visit to Amsterdam ArenA
- Press release in the Amsterdam ArenA at 14.30.
- Departure from Schiphol.
On Thursday 10 June 2010 the players of the Dutch national team opened a Cruyff Court Orange Field in the township Hillbrow in Johannesburg (South Africa). The soccer field with changing rooms and a WorldCoaches office is a gift by the players for the youth of the disadvantaged neighbourhood and has been developed in collaboration with, among others, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the Royal Netherlands Football Association KNVB and the Dutch embassy.
The players of the Dutch national team have donated a part of their tournament fees to make the expenses of 1 million rand (about 100,000 Euros) possible.
“My team mates in the Dutch national team and I, we all had a safe place near our homes where we could play football. A place where we could develop our skills and meet our friends. All these hours in the street made us into the football players we are today,” said Giovanni van Bronckhorst, captain of the Dutch national team. “As representatives of the Netherlands we feel privileged to be playing at the World Cup. But we do not come here to play and perform in the World Cup only. We want to support the local community as well. Therefore we would like to give the children of Hillbrow what we found so valuable in our own youth: a safe place to play and have fun.”
Embracing the legacy
“The Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Dutch national team have a long and successful history of working together. The Cruyff Court in Hillbrow is the fifth Cruyff Court that has been made possible by the players. When they approached us with the wish to leave behind a legacy in South Africa, we did not have a second’s hesitation,” says Johan Cruyff. “With the Construction of a Cruyff Court, we also spread the ideas of the Johan Cruyff Foundation. My 14 rules, closely connected to each Cruyff Court, teach children to be responsible, to show respect and to learn from each other, among other things. In the harsh reality of a township – where drugs and crime are serious issues – these life lessons are extremely valuable both on and off the pitch.”
After the opening by the players, Johan Cruyff and Henk Kesler, CEO Professional Football of the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB), several players from the Dutch national team played a game against children from the township. They were supported by Ruud Gullit, the President of The HollandBelgium Bid. The Cruyff Courts are part of the Open Clubs Football programme of The HollandBelgium Bid.
Cooperation with WorldCoaches
The Cruyff Court Orange Field Hillbrow is a collaboration between the players of the Dutch national team, the KNVB, the Johan Cruyff Foundation, the Dutch embassy in Johannesburg and the local Witwaterstand University and Madulammoho Housing Corporation.
Within the next few years, the court will be used for the activities of WorldCoaches, the international social programme of the KNVB which educates coaches together with local partners in developing countries. A WorldCoach trains and supervises the children during soccer activities, but also brings them ‘life skills’. He or she supports local young people and provides them information on important issues such as prevention of HIV / AIDS and crime. This is why the court is build next to the World Coaches office.
Zürich, 14 May 2010 – The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint candidacy of Belgium and Holland for the FIFA World Cup, today presented seven Great Goals as part of its Bid Book. The Great Goals herald the contribution the HollandBelgium Bid will make to football, as well as to the people, society and the environment.
The Bid Book and a magazine which features the Great Goals and the ambassadors of the Bid were handed over to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter by Ruud Gullit, Paul Van Himst and Johan Cruyff in Zurich today. The HollandBelgium Bid delegation, including co-chairmen Michael van Praag and François De Keersmaecker as well as CEO Harry Been, arrived at FIFA House by bicycle. The bicycle ride drew attention to the green ambitions of the Bid.
Bid President Ruud Gullit said: “EURO2000 is a showcase for a profitable tournament and a successful standard for joint organisation. Today we offer FIFA all the ingredients for a great football fiesta with a lasting legacy. A guarantee for success.”
The HollandBelgium Bid developed seven Great Goals - seven good reasons for the Low Countries to host the FIFA World Cup™.
1. Success guaranteed
Thanks to our experience with and expertise in organising major football tournaments and sport events, we can guarantee a successful tournament to the world. A tournament with world-class football, a great atmosphere and a profitable outcome.
The Low Countries form a duality. We demonstrate that a joint candidacy is more than feasible – EURO2000 is the example. With this we are an example for all other countries that would like to host a FIFA World Cup together.
A compact tournament in the heart of Europe. The next match is never far away.
2. Added impetus for the springboard of football talent
The Low Countries have developed themselves into springboards for top talent and top coaches for the major European competitions and national teams around the world. The FIFA World Cup is a necessary stimulus for our national competitions, which enable us to remain strong springboards. We will offer the world an insight into how we do this.
3. All of our 14 FIFA World Cup stadiums are green and sustainable
We offer the world a toolkit for sustainable stadiums.
Thanks to newly developed guidance for sustainable stadiums, the HollandBelgium Bid is a pioneer in creating stadiums that are green beyond imagination. To ensure this, countless new concepts and techniques are being applied. Named the Sustainable Stadium Toolkit, we offer this to the football world.
4. Open Football Clubs as centres of our community
Commitment by the Low Countries to install 2.018 or 2022 Open Football Clubs within eight years.
The Open Football Clubs model will be made available to other countries.
The Low Countries enjoy a special club culture. We will use this to build a unique network of Open Football Clubs, which will operate as multifunctional centres in communities, villages and cities.
The basis of these new-style clubs is health, respect and education, thereby tackling relevant issues in society.
All existing social community initiatives, under the umbrella of the Open Football Club name, will receive an enormous boost by hosting the FIFA World Cup. This enables us to realise our ambition to install 2018 or 2022 Open Football Clubs.
5. We educate 2018 or 2022 WorldCoaches worldwide
Through a specially developed programme called WorldCoaches, the HollandBelgium Bid supports the education and development of trainers and other key figures within clubs in developing countries. Up to 2018 or we can train 2018 or 2022 coaches through WorldCoaches – a clear commitment by the HollandBelgium Bid.
WorldCoaches does not only focus on football skills, coaching and organisation, but also on the development of so-called life skills.
During a FIFA World Cup in the Low Countries we offer a special Train the Trainer programme, based on the WorldCoaches approach.
6. The most sustainable FIFA World Cup ever
Our compactness dramatically reduces the need for transport during the tournament. Together with a set of new eco-measurements, The HollandBelgium Bid guarantees a FIFA World Cup with an environmental impact that is 50% lower.
We have an Environment Protection Plan in place which gives centre stage to optimised public transport and 2 million free bicycles.
We have created a unique World Cup Ecological Footprint – a new method to measure the ecological impact of a major football event. Thanks to this instrument we know that we will ‘save’ 50% on the environment. We will offer this concept to FIFA.
7. World-class football in a great atmosphere.
Football fans can expect a dream holiday when visiting the FIFA World Cup in the Low Countries. Fans can enjoy world-class football in a fantastic atmosphere which has so much to offer. Cities, beaches, culinary delights, shopping.
The Low Countries are laidback and have supporters who create a wonderful atmosphere. The entire world will feel at home.
Our compactness is an asset. Stadiums are always close. Fans, players, officials and media feel the advantage of short travel times, which means more time to enjoy the event.
A FIFA World Cup in the Low Countries will be a unique football celebration.
Eindhoven, 12 May 2010 – The HollandBelgium Bid is in Bern today on its way to Zürich, where it will be presenting its Bid Book on 14 May.
The HollandBelgium Bid will be a guest on the Bundesplatz, a plaza in the old city centre of Bern, at 3 pm. The HollandBelgium Bid President, Ruud Gullit, will be explaining the bid and together with the All Star Team presenting the city of Bern with a football wall. Following the presentation, a football clinic will be held for forty to fifty young Swiss players along with the All Star Team under Ruud Gullit’s supervision.
The Netherlands’ most capped player and The HollandBelgium Bid ambassador, Edwin van der Sar, will be flying in especially for this event and will be assisting with the clinic for the young Swiss players.
A reception is also being held in the Stade de Suisse including a guided tour of the Euro 2008 Museum that is housed in the stadium.
To round off the day, a reception is being held at Bern City Hall, followed by a dinner courtesy of the Belgian and Dutch embassies.
Antwerp, 6 May 2010. – This afternoon, at a festive meeting in the Antwerp city hall, the Prime Ministers of Belgium and the Netherlands, Leterme and Balkenende, symbolically compiled and presented the Bid Book of The HollandBelgium Bid for the 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup™ to the organisation of The HollandBelgium Bid. On Friday 14 May, the Bid Book will be presented to FIFA in Zürich. The meeting in Antwerp was the final stage of The HollandBelgium Bid’s Twelve City Tour, which started on 29 April in Genk and Heerenveen.
The HollandBelgium Bid brought together the chapters of the Bid Book in an original and sustainable way. On 29 April, groups of supporters cycled and sailed from Genk and Heerenveen to the next host city carrying a chapter of the Bid book. By train, bicycle and boat, every bidding host city thus figuratively presented a chapter of the Bid Book.
On 6 May, the Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, received the collected chapters from the delegations of Eindhoven and Ghent and added the last chapter. Antwerp’s Mayor then gave the collected chapters in city hall to the Belgian and Dutch Prime Ministers, Leterme and Balkenende. They compiled the elements of the Bid Book into one book and presented it to Paul van Himst, ambassador of The HollandBelgium Bid. He is a member of the delegation that will present the Bid Book to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on 14 May in Zürich.
Paul van Himst was pleasantly surprised by the cities’ enthusiasm for The Bid: “Every city has tried to be sustainable and original. This not only resulted in pretty pictures. A bicycle tour of 180 kilometres in one day, from Enschede to Amsterdam on 1 May, is also a great sporting feat, as was today’s bicycle tour from Ghent to Antwerp. This underlines our Bid’s green character. And this makes us unique.”
Eindhoven, 3 May 2010 – On Thursday 6 May, the Belgian Prime Minister, Leterme, and his Dutch counterpart Balkenende will join all chapters of the candidate host cities into a joint Bid Book for the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup™. They will officially hand the entire Bid Book to ambassador Paul Van Himst and Harry Been, CEO of The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™, at the Antwerp City Hall, Grote Markt, 2000 Antwerp. The press is more than welcome to attend this event.
Subsequently, ambassador Paul Van Himst and his colleague Ruud Gullit, President of The HollandBelgium Bid, will travel to Zürich to personally present the entire Bid Book to FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. On 2 December it will be decided which countries will host the 2018 and the 2022 FIFA World Cups™
Twelve City Tour
Op 29 April the chapters of the Bid Book left Genk and Heerenveen by ship, bus, train or bicycle, on a tour of the twelve candidate host cities. On 6 May a delegation from Eindhoven will take the chapters collected in the Netherlands to Antwerp by bus. A delegation from Ghent will cycle to Antwerp to hand over the Belgian chapters. There, they will be joined with the Antwerp chapter and the entire Bid Book will be handed to the Prime Ministers and The HollandBelgium Bid delegation.
Programme
3.45 pm: The Mayor of Antwerp, Patrick Janssens, welcomes the Ghent delegation (including, among others, Bob Peeters and Gunther Schepens) and the Eindhoven delegation at the Antwerp City Hall
4.45 pm: The Ghent delegation hands over the Belgian chapters to Antwerp, after which Prime Ministers Leterme and Balkenende join all Belgian and Dutch chapters
5 pm: The Prime Ministers hand the entire Bid Book to Paul Van Himst and Harry Been 5.15 pm: Opportunity to take photographs with The HollandBelgium Bid ambassadors Paul Van Himst, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Pieter van den Hoogenband, Erwin Vandenbergh, Danny Veyt, Femke Maes, Leo Van der Elst, Jacky Munaron, Patrick Vervoort, Rudi Smidts, Nico Claesen, etc.
If you would like to attend this event in Antwerp, kindly contact François Colin (francois.colin@thebid.org) or Alexandre Charlier (alexandre.charlier@thebid.org) by Tuesday 4 May, 5 pm at the latest. Please explicitly mention whether you require a parking permit.
We also ask TV channels which require a mobile broadcasting unit on the Grote Markt to inform us by Tuesday at the latest.
Journalists can access the City Hall through the Suikerrui entrance.
Seoul, 28 April 2010 – OOn Wednesday, under the watchful eye of the Korean media and the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, The HollandBelgium Bid’s All Star Team beat the Korean Legends 2-1 at the substadium of the Seoul Worldcup Stadium. This was the All Star Team’s second match as part of the promotion tour of The HollandBelgium Bid, the Belgian and Dutch joint bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup™. The Bid made a donation to the Hong Myung-Bo Foundation, proving once more that football can contribute to a better world –the true meaning of Great Goals.
The Belgo-Dutch All Star Team of ex-internationals was made up Jean-Marie Pfaff, Aron Winter, Rob Witschge, Gilles De Bilde, Michael Mols, Pierre van Hooijdonk and Gert Verheijen. They played the Korean Legends, consisting of players of the team that came fourth during the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ on home turf under coach Guus Hiddink: Myung-Bo Hong (captain), Jung-Won Seo, Tae-Young Kim, Min-Sung Lee, Bong-Soo Kim.
Before the game, Michael van Praag, co-chairman of The HollandBelgium Bid, told the spectators that through the organisation of the FIFA World Cup™, Belgium and the Netherlands want to contribute not only to better football, but also to a better world – hence the slogan Together for Great Goals. Therefore, captain Aron Winter presented the Hong Myung-Bo Foundation with a 50,000 dollar cheque on behalf of The HollandBelgium Bid. This foundation, which was created by the captain of the Korean national team coached by Hiddink, provides financial support to talented local players, to allow them to focus on the game.
During an eventful game Gert Verheijen scored the first goal. After a few more great chances for the All Star Team, Seo Jung-Won managed to draw just before half-time. Prime Minister Balkenende kicked off the second half, wearing a special shirt of The HollandBelgium Bid All Star Team.
During the second half, both teams had several chances to score. After the All Stars and the Legends had both hit the post, Rob Witschge managed to beat the Legends 2-1, despite being a player down. Jean-Marie Pfaff made a few good saves, allowing The HollandBelgium Bid’s All Star Team to win the match. Last December, they had also beaten the African Legends in Capetown, South Africa.
Clinic and meeting with Dr Chung
Before the match, The HollandBelgium Bid All Star Team held a football clinic for almost fifty children. The event was organised in collaboration with ING and KLM, Official Partners of The Bid.
The trip concludes on Wednesday evening, with a meeting between Guus Hiddink, ambassador of The HollandBelgium Bid, and Dr Chung, one of the 24 members of the FIFA Executive Committee.
The HollandBelgium Bid, the joint Belgian and Dutch bid for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups™, has launched www.JoinTheWave.nl and www.JoinTheWave.be. Fans of the Dutch and Belgian national teams can create a virtual Wave with the most colourful supporters in international football by uploading their videos to the site. 
Eindhoven, 12 May 2010 – The HollandBelgium Bid is in Bern today on its way to Zürich, where it will be presenting its Bid Book on 14 May. 
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