Organizer of the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti
Reynald Temarii
“The World Cup will bring 5 million euros to Polynesia”
FrancsJeux : Where are you with the organization of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti, scheduled for September 18 to 28, 2013?
Reynald Temarii: A little less than eight months before the event, the local organizing committee (LOC) is ready. Such serenity is the result of a valuable collective contribution from the three main public institutions partners of the event: the Country, the State and the City of Papeete. In the private sector, EDT - GDF - SUEZ and the Post and Telecommunications Office also participate considerably in the collective financial effort. In total, more than 700 people will be directly associated with the organization, including 250 volunteers. The local government and the host city of Papeete will bring together more than 200 personnel assigned to the COL. Around a hundred police officers from state forces are mobilized to guarantee optimal security for the 800 foreign visitors expected in Tahiti on this occasion. Our organizing committee today has around twenty permanent members whose average age is 33 years old. This figure illustrates our desire to involve young people in this great adventure. The planning of the work on the TOATA stadium, the development cost of which is €3,2 million, will allow us to inaugurate the World Cup competition site on August 5, during a regional event. which will bring together the Pacific countries: Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and even New Caledonia.
What is the nature of your relationship with FIFA?
The Beach Soccer World Cup belongs to FIFA, in fact it is the supreme authority of the organization. Despite the 18.000 km that separate Tahiti from Zurich, FIFA headquarters, the progress of the work of the organizing committee is the subject of weekly "conference calls" which allow the two entities to agree on the implementation implementing the programs necessary for the success of the organization. To refine our work, FIFA representatives visited us four times, between 2012 and 2013, the 3rd inspection visit being scheduled from February 16 to 23. FIFA's financial participation is important, even vital for the organization. FIFA's expertise also allows our young executives to evolve quickly and gain skills.
What importance does this competition have for Polynesia and for Polynesian sport?
FIFA was created in 1904. It took 110 years for the Pacific island nation to host one of the World Cups of the most influential sports federation on the planet with the IOC. Its economic impact is estimated at more than €5 million. Its broadcast should reach 1250 hours for the 32 official matches, in nearly 200 countries. More indirectly, the event will also have allowed the cleaning up and dusting off of local regulations in terms of taxation, sports medicine, commercial rights linked to sports competitions... It constitutes a tremendous boon for sustainably developing our site. TOATA, known for hosting the biggest cultural events in French Polynesia. Finally, the World Cup will allow the Polynesian sports movement to raise awareness among the country's key players, particularly the local political class, about the new dimension of Polynesian sport. Sport is not only a fantastic education and socialization tool, but it is now recognized as a driving force for the endogenous development of our territory.
