It may be a full nine years away but if Ireland is to be successful in a joint bid with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to stage the 2030 World Cup, it will be because the work is already well underway.

Yesterday a call went up on the Stae Boards Appointment website for applications to be the Irish Government nominee to the Board of the company charged with evaluating and then developing a bid.

The list of desirable characteristics is long and detailed and if there is an individual who ticks every box then it will have been some career to date.

The reality is that it will be a blend of the different elements that creates the right person and the search has begun.

Those characteristics and experiences include:

• A strong background in sport and an understanding/experience of international sport relations
• Experience of public policy and government requirements
• Experience in delivery of major events
• Experience of campaign management and reputation/PR management
• Experience relevant for the bid (including broadcasting, sponsorship, hospitality and ticketing)
• Experience in bidding for major events
• Experience as a football player/coach at international tournament level
• Demonstration of strong leadership credentials
• Experience working across various countries resulting in an understanding and appreciation of various cultures
• Demonstrable skills in building stakeholder relationships and influencing
• Experience of developing and defining an organisational strategy
• Understanding of the duties and responsibilities of a director (Risks, Finances, Legal, Health and Safety etc.)

The experience of having played or coached at the international tournament level is something of an outlier with that narrowing the potential pool considerably were it to be given a high weighting.

Ireland has experience in putting together the bid to host four games in the Euro 2020 tournament, a win that was snatched away from us by Covid. That was won under the leadership of John Delaney however and that may carry over some baggage for what will be a politically sensitive appointment.

There is also experience in a wider context from the failed bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Sometimes you have to lose in order to learn and go on to win.

The closing date for applications is Friday the 26th of November

 

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