World Cup snub big boost for Coast Games bid

A POSSIBLY fatal blow to Australia's $45 million bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup could be good news for the Gold Coast with a renewed push to get vital Federal Government funding for the 2018 Commonwealth Games bid.

Soccer governing body FIFA yesterday announced it would probably only consider bids from European countries to host the 2018 Cup, the snub raising hopes the Federal Government will now abandon its stumbling bid and concentrate on the more realistic attempt to lure the Commonwealth Games to the Gold Coast.

But it is not all smooth sailing for the Commonwealth Games bid team, with speculation Geoff Dixon -- the NSW-based chairman of Queensland Events who had been conducting a feasibility study for the Games to come to the Gold Coast -- will now be given a bigger role in the World Cup bid process.

In November Mr Dixon was appointed by the Federal Government to assist with the World Cup bid and is now expected to take on a more high-profile role.

Premier Anna Bligh said yesterday the FIFA announcement could benefit the Coast.

"This is good news for our Commonwealth Games bid. It's now full steam ahead and we will be working hard to get everyone on board," she said.

Although Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has given his support for the Commonwealth Games bid he has refused to contribute any funding because of the $45 million contributed to the more risky World Cup hosting attempt.

If Australia does continue with a bid for the 2022 World Cup it will be up against the United States, Qatar, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea.

The Australian Commonwealth Games Association is due to meet early this year to decide whether an Australian bid for the 2018 games will proceed.