One year after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa the female players will be competing in Germany for the women’s title. While the qualifiers for the sixteen places are still going on, former world-class player Steffi Jones has long been working hard as President of the Organizing Committee to follow the exciting 2006 Men’s World Cup with another highlight in Germany.
Ms. Jones, what goals has the German Football Association (DFB) associated with hosting the Women’s World Cup in 2011?
Our greatest goal is to create sustainability. It is hoped the tournament will give a major boost to the professionalization of the women’s game. We want to achieve a situation in which the players can live from their sport – in other words, that they no longer have to work in other jobs at the same time. The 2011 Women’s World Cup enables us to present women’s football on an extraordinary stage in the heart of Europe and to show that it offers a highly attractive platform in every respect. My personal dream is that every girl who wants to play football will also be able to do so. That includes not only that there are girls’ football teams everywhere, but also trainers and training facilities. We are already working on that now. The DFB has allocated a budget of 19.4 million euros.
What will be different compared to the men’s tournament in 2006?
The successful 2006 World Cup gives us an organizational advantage. Nevertheless, we’re not working for a straight copy, but want to write our own story. I think that our slogan – The Beautiful Side of 20Eleven – expresses that wonderfully.
Which has been the best Women’s World Cup so far?
I experienced the 1999 and 2003 World Cups in the USA as a player. The 1999 final in front of 100,000 spectators was incredible. New standards were set there. And the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney were also outstanding – an entire country in party mood, everywhere friendly people who willingly provided information about the country and its people and were simply fascinated by the Olympics. That’s also our hope for 2011, that we can arouse a fascination for the Women’s World Cup among the greatest number of people in Germany and that our foreign guests will also be inspired by the wonderful cities and sights.
How far have preparations progressed almost one year before kickoff?
We’re completely on schedule. Currently our attention is focused on the U-20 Women’s World Cup, which will take place here in Germany shortly after the World Cup in South Africa. For us it’s a kind of dress rehearsal in four cities that will also have World Cup stadiums in 2011. Another highlight this year will certainly be the final round draw in the Frankfurt Festhalle on 29 November, which will be transmitted live on television. Additionally, ticket sales are picking up steam. In the first phase we sold 200,000 tickets, which is a very positive sign and proves that there is already a strong popular awareness of next year’s World Cup. If the stadiums are 80% full, we will refinance the tournament. I’m very optimistic that we’ll manage 100%.
How do you work with the Organizing Committee staff? Do you have to take care of every detail yourself as OC President?
The operational business is handled by our general coordinator, Ulrich Wolter, and a total of four departmental heads, which allows me to take care of representative duties. Nevertheless, I do try to contribute as much as I can to all the tasks at hand. Sometimes we have quite hefty arguments, but we’ve always been able to reach a consensus.
Did you imagine what the duties would involve when you took on the job in 2008? After all, you had only just ended a successful career one year before.
Of course, I first had to get used to it. Until then, with the exception of Franz Beckenbauer, I’d never met anyone who had organized a World Cup before. It was really quite a jump moving from the football field to an official’s desk, but also every instructive and varied – today a meeting with the Federal Chancellor, tomorrow a lecture at a school, the day after tomorrow something completely different. It’s a totally amazing job!
Apropos the Chancellor, how do you rate her interest?
It’s a wonderful thing for us to have such a prominent supporter. She’s our great patron in the world of politics and she’s really interested in women’s football. She even heads our First Ladies’ Team. She’s been enthusiastic about football since the 2006 World Cup and passionately follows what’s going on, regularly taking the time for a personal talk.
Are there still any differences left between women’s and men’s football at the top level?
When it comes to attitude and commitment, the answer is “no”. Players in both games work absolutely professionally, which is also reflected in the fact that our women’s national side has access to a similarly large team of trainers as the men’s side. Of course, there’s one thing you mustn’t do: you mustn’t make physical comparisons.
Women’s football was not officially permitted in Germany until 1970. What’s your basic appraisal of how things have developed since then?
What were things like then? Women were supposed to look after the children and the home. That situation had nothing to do with football, which developed quickly following the change in people’s perception of women. A German league, the Bundesliga, was formed and great successes were soon celebrated by the national team. Today we have over a million women and girls playing football under the DFB umbrella and the numbers are still growing. In other words, there have been a lot of positive developments for women – on and off the pitch!
Why do we so rarely see women’s Bundesliga matches on TV?
You only see these images often in the regional media. Change in this area is our minimum goal for the next five years. We must train female players better and make the Bundesliga even more attractive, so that more spectators will come and the interest of sponsors and the media grows. They build on one another, and hopefully the World Cup will provide a boost – even if 50,000 spectators at a women’s Bundesliga match will remain unrealistic in the future.
Will there be an accompanying programme for the Women’s World Cup?
Yes, certainly. For example, we have established 2011 Children’s Dreams, a social project that supports 60 children’s hospices. Fun Parks will also be set up around the stadiums so that the entire family can feel at ease and enjoy itself. And we are organizing road shows in many towns in the run-up to the World Cup to promote the tournament and arouse enthusiasm. Many national players will also be taking part.
A sporting question: who are your top favourites for the World Cup title?
As defending champions Germany is naturally a favourite and certainly the USA and Brazil. England and North Korea have also developed well recently. China shouldn’t be underestimated either, but the qualifiers are still running until the end of October so we still have to see who gets through.
Who are currently the world’s best female players?
The Brazilians Marta and Cristiane, England’s Kelly Smith and Abby Wambach of the USA. And alongside Birgit Prinz definitely our goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
Which German players can the fans especially look forward to watching?
As well as the established players, certainly Fatmire Bajramaj and Kim Kulig, who plays for Hamburger SV. Despite their youth, both are extremely solid and technically brilliant.
If you could have three wishes come true for the World Cup, what would they be?
A third World Cup win for Germany, full stadiums and that the exhilaration is contagious!//
