Swimming great Thorpe backs Aussie football WC bid

Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe has thrown his support behind his country’s bid to host the football World Cup, saying Wednesday it would be “huge for Australia”.

Australia hopes to hold the World Cup in 2018 or 2022, arguing that having the event would consolidate the growth of the sport in Asia.

“It would be huge for Australia as the whole country would be showcased to the rest of the world,” Thorpe said in a statement.

“Also, economically we would receive a great benefit.”

Thorpe, a five-time Olympic gold medallist from the Sydney and Athens Games who announced his retirement from swimming in November 2006, said Australians understood this after hosting the 2000 Olympics.

“But many would not realise what hosting a FIFA World Cup means to the entire nation,” he said.

“It would strengthen our position in key markets in our time zone and tourism would go through the roof.”

Thorpe will have a chance to press his case when he joins UEFA president and FIFA executive committee member Michel Platini at a sports convention in Dubai on Thursday, Football Federation Australia said.

Australia is one of nine bidders for 2018, and one of 11 in the race for 2022, with the decision on both to be made in December.