tumbidragon
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South Africa have submitted their bid document for the 2017 World Cup and remain confident of stealing the tournament from under the noses of Australia and New Zealand.
The bid includes a grant of $200,000 to every competing nation, expansion of the World Cup to 16 teams, use of giant stadiums and possibly an emerging nations tournament and a $1 million first prize.
"We have answered a few preliminary questions and I am sure they will come back with more," said Chris Botes, the South Africa Rugby League consultant who is in Manchester for the final.
"We are confident we have out together the best bid we can."
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Where is the money coming from, you ask? Well, the TV rights deal the Rugby League International Federation did with management company IMG is worth 100 million rand ($10,760,000), says Botes, and it's a slice of that pie that the bid is chasing.
As for the sport not being recognised in South Africa, the SARL has given up on trying to get the national Olympic committee onside and is now focusing on a new law which would allow the Department of Sport and Recreation to officially recognise them early next year.
"The government accepts we are a sport, they support our bid, but this legislation regarding the recognition of governing bodies has to go before Cabinet," Botes said.
Australia and New Zealand's joint bid is the only rival to the South Africans but is an overwhelming favourite, mainly because taking the World Cup to a country where league is not a mainstream game is seen as too risky.
The SARL had hoped the winning bid would be announced this weekend but it has been put back until early next year.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...7-world-cup-20131130-2yhv4.html#ixzz2mAhZVvyd
Sounds a very far fetched bid. I'm all for RL growing in SA (and all around the world) but surely they need to put in some hard yards and lay the groundwork for a respectable national comp before they get a WC. Walk before you run and all that.. Or maybe this is the shot in the arm RL needs in that part of the world?
Thought?