FIFA Visit Comes To Successful Conclusion

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association declared the recent three-day visit of FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and delegates a huge success following a media conference this morning in Montreal which was hosted by the Secretary of State for Amateur Sport, the Honourable Denis Coderre. Accompanying President Blatter on his trip to Canada were Michel Platini, Special Advisor to the President, Jerome Champagne, Advisor to the President and FIFA Medical Committee member Professor Jiri Dvorak.
“It has been a momentous weekend for Canadian Soccer with the President of FIFA visiting Canada,” said CSA President, Jim Fleming. “We have accomplished much during Mr. Blatter’s visit and made great progress in many areas including further development of a Canadian professional soccer league. We look forward to welcoming back President Blatter to Canada next year for the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship.”
President Blatter addressed all delegates of the Canadian Soccer Association attending the Special General Meeting in Toronto on Sunday morning and today, made a joint announcement with the Government of Canada with reference to the launch of a Canadian Soccer Foundation. He also visited with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien prior to leaving for Montreal.
The Canadian Soccer Foundation is a new non-profit venture, created by the Canadian Soccer Association in conjunction with the Government of Canada, designed to give support to a Canadian World Cup bid as well as raising funds to support future soccer activities across Canada.
A bilateral agreement between the Government of Canada and FIFA was also announced today. This collaboration will support special soccer projects initiated by identified Third World Countries.
“I was delighted with my visit and in particular I was pleased with our discussions with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien,” said Blatter. “I was also happy to sign the accord with the Government of Canada for the further development of the sport internationally.”
Another issue discussed during the visit is the close collaboration on concussion and its prevention between FIFA, the IIHF, the IOC and the Ministry of Sport.
Background information on the Declaration of Intent and the Canadian Soccer Foundation are available on the internet at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca