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What often gets overlooked is the business behind the FIFA organization. Congress Rental was privileged to be chosen to supply all the simultaneous interpretation and microphones for all the meetings and ceremonies leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. These meetings included the 60th FIFA Congress opening ceremony and conference, as well as numerous smaller meetings for the various executive committees and member associations such as UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF.
Meetings began as far back as February, where Congress Rental provided interpretation and conferencing equipment for the FIFA Medical conference in Sun City. This was a weeklong conference and required the interpretation of 4 languages for approximately 150 – 650 delegates, depending on the rooms used that day. The FIFA Medical conference was the start of what was to be a long list of FIFA related conferences.
As the country was counting down to the 11th of June, FIFA had a countdown of its own. For this prestigious association, the World Cup actually begins at least a week before the opening match. During this time the numerous committees meet to make final decisions with regards to the upcoming World Cup and those beyond, as well as reaching agreements on certain statutes and laws imposed by FIFA on its member associations. After these meetings are concluded the member associations then meet to discuss issues within their designated geographical area. Each association is in fact a governing body for specific geographical areas. For example, the AFC is the Asian Football Confederation and governs the leagues, referees, etc within Asia and Australia. Other member associations include: UEFA (Union of European Football Associations), CAF (Confédération Africaine de Football), CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), CONMEBOL (Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol ) and OFC (Oceanic Football Confederation) (See image obtained off Wikipedia). The referees also meet to help ensure that they are all on the same page, and to help ensure FIFA’s mantra of Fair Play is upheld. One final meeting, held the day before the opening ceremony of the 60th FIFA Congress, is where all the countries bidding for the hosting of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup present why they should be chosen as the next host country. The executive committee formally approved the principle of co-hosting this year and this has thus allowed the joint bids of both Holland/Belgium and Portugal/Spain to be taken into consideration. (For more information with regards to the outcomes of these numerous meetings, please visit www.fifa.com).
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