The Local Organising Committee for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup starts operation this Friday, as newly appointed LOC-President Steffi Jones will team-up with her predecessor Franz Beckenbauer – the Organisational Head at the 2006 World Cup – for a ceremonious grand opening of the LOC offices. For Jones, the World Cup winner in 2003 and European Champion in 1997, 2001 and 2005, the new assignment comes as a radical shift in life-styles.
While the daughter of a German mother and a U.S.soldier stationed in Germany intends to expand her wardrobe, she will stick to her principles and remain true to her beliefs. Integration, football’s social obligations as well as the promotion of girls’ football are entrenched at the roots of Steffi Jones and her understanding of the new role. She wants to preside over the new organisation, yet be a part of the team.
In this exclusive dfb.de interview with DFB-editor Wolfgang Tobien, the 35-year old Jones outlines the road towards the next football World Cup in Germany. She also stresses the similarities and differences with the men’s tournament in 2006: “The women’s World Cup will be a family affair”, Jones says.
Question: Office opening is scheduled for this Friday. Your most important message for the day?
Jones: Besides organising a picture-perfect World Cup, we are determined to pursue three other long-term goals. Hopefully, women’s football will be a much more popular sport following Germany 2011. The game brings together people of every cultural background, so we’ll always keep in mind the integrative effects of football. And the 2011 Women’s World Cup will definetely be a non-profit venture. This tournament will be rooted in our regional organisations. At the same time, I have to make certain, that our LOC team grows to full operational strength in a hurry. I will introduce my closest assistants to the public on Friday.
Question: You started in January. Your experiences through these first few weeks?
Jones: One basic learing – meetings that are scheduled for an hour will take three hours. I have to be very aware of the details, because I don’t intend to be a mere representative. What an exciting three-and-a-half years. We will work at the tournament with the utmost determination, but we’ll not forget to have good laugh every once in a while.
Question: So the transformation has begun. You are not a football player any longer?
Jones: Certainly, I have to adapt to my new role, which also requires respectability. At times, I need to keep my distance. It’s a process, an ongoing change, without betraying my personality.
Question: What will keep you busy in the upcoming weeks?
Jones: First negotiations with the national suppliers of the 2011 World Cup are on our agenda, while the creation of the official emblem and the World Cup slogan have also begun. Once FIFA has determined the number of particpating teams, we may have to make a tough decision in regard to our host cities. We have an excellent group of twelve cities assembled as of now. These items are on the top of the list. We also need to create campaigns to stimulate public awareness, and we are contacting potential ambassadors for 2011.
Question: The 2006 Organisational Committee had more than five years as the preparational phase. Your team needs to cope with a little more than three years. Will this time suffice?
Jones: We draw a tremendous profit from the experiences made in the run-up to 2006, from the many good ones and from some bad ones. Many contributors to the 2006 success have returned for this new exciting task. Please don’t forget, that the 2011 tournament will not match the men’s tournament in size.
Question: You mentioned it: 2011 will not be a carbon copy of 2006. What atmosphere will you try to create?
Jones: 2011 will be a family affair. I believe that women are much more group-orientated in their thinking. 'We’ should be more important than ‘I’. This implies the socially important message of integration. Once again, just as in 2006, the event will be a colorful spectactle filled with euphoria and passion.
Question: Ever since your appointment, you have been compared to Franz Beckenbauer – an inspiration or an intimidation?
Jones: It’s a tremendous honour. I see it as a compliment. Because of my position on the field and my style of play, the media had compared me to Franz Beckenbauer even during my playing days. It’s a very good feeling.
Question: Where are the differences to Beckenbauer?
Jones: He organised 2006 from an honorary office, while I’m fully employed by the DFB. Obviously, he has reached a position which I can only dream about. When Franz Beckenbauer enters the room, let’s say during talks with a sponsor, the outcome is certain. I’ll have to work hard to reach a satisfying result. I look forward to his recommendations.
Question: When will you first meet Franz Beckenbauer for a talk?
Jones: Hopefully, this Friday. I’d be very happy if he would wish me all the best. He is my idol, I’m really looking up to him.
Question: The media answered your appointment with a very positive echo. Are you surprised that Germans have already adopted you as the face of the 2011 World Cup?
Jones: There were some reservations and doubts on my part. I felt uncertain how the fans would accept me, Steffi Jones, as the President of the World Cup committee. But Dr. Theo Zwanziger, the DFB President, gave me the needed confidence. “Just take that step”, he said to me. And that’s what I did.
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The Local Organising Committee for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup starts operation this Friday, as newly appointed LOC-President Steffi Jones will team-up with her predecessor Franz Beckenbauer – the Organisational Head at the 2006 World Cup – for a ceremonious grand opening of the LOC offices. For Jones, the World Cup winner in 2003 and European Champion in 1997, 2001 and 2005, the new assignment comes as a radical shift in life-styles.
While the daughter of a German mother and a U.S.soldier stationed in Germany intends to expand her wardrobe, she will stick to her principles and remain true to her beliefs. Integration, football’s social obligations as well as the promotion of girls’ football are entrenched at the roots of Steffi Jones and her understanding of the new role. She wants to preside over the new organisation, yet be a part of the team.
In this exclusive dfb.de interview with DFB-editor Wolfgang Tobien, the 35-year old Jones outlines the road towards the next football World Cup in Germany. She also stresses the similarities and differences with the men’s tournament in 2006: “The women’s World Cup will be a family affair”, Jones says.
Question: Office opening is scheduled for this Friday. Your most important message for the day?
Jones: Besides organising a picture-perfect World Cup, we are determined to pursue three other long-term goals. Hopefully, women’s football will be a much more popular sport following Germany 2011. The game brings together people of every cultural background, so we’ll always keep in mind the integrative effects of football. And the 2011 Women’s World Cup will definetely be a non-profit venture. This tournament will be rooted in our regional organisations. At the same time, I have to make certain, that our LOC team grows to full operational strength in a hurry. I will introduce my closest assistants to the public on Friday.
Question: You started in January. Your experiences through these first few weeks?
Jones: One basic learing – meetings that are scheduled for an hour will take three hours. I have to be very aware of the details, because I don’t intend to be a mere representative. What an exciting three-and-a-half years. We will work at the tournament with the utmost determination, but we’ll not forget to have good laugh every once in a while.
Question: So the transformation has begun. You are not a football player any longer?
Jones: Certainly, I have to adapt to my new role, which also requires respectability. At times, I need to keep my distance. It’s a process, an ongoing change, without betraying my personality.
Question: What will keep you busy in the upcoming weeks?
Jones: First negotiations with the national suppliers of the 2011 World Cup are on our agenda, while the creation of the official emblem and the World Cup slogan have also begun. Once FIFA has determined the number of particpating teams, we may have to make a tough decision in regard to our host cities. We have an excellent group of twelve cities assembled as of now. These items are on the top of the list. We also need to create campaigns to stimulate public awareness, and we are contacting potential ambassadors for 2011.
Question: The 2006 Organisational Committee had more than five years as the preparational phase. Your team needs to cope with a little more than three years. Will this time suffice?
Jones: We draw a tremendous profit from the experiences made in the run-up to 2006, from the many good ones and from some bad ones. Many contributors to the 2006 success have returned for this new exciting task. Please don’t forget, that the 2011 tournament will not match the men’s tournament in size.
Question: You mentioned it: 2011 will not be a carbon copy of 2006. What atmosphere will you try to create?
Jones: 2011 will be a family affair. I believe that women are much more group-orientated in their thinking. 'We’ should be more important than ‘I’. This implies the socially important message of integration. Once again, just as in 2006, the event will be a colorful spectactle filled with euphoria and passion.
Question: Ever since your appointment, you have been compared to Franz Beckenbauer – an inspiration or an intimidation?
Jones: It’s a tremendous honour. I see it as a compliment. Because of my position on the field and my style of play, the media had compared me to Franz Beckenbauer even during my playing days. It’s a very good feeling.
[bild2]
Question: Where are the differences to Beckenbauer?
Jones: He organised 2006 from an honorary office, while I’m fully employed by the DFB. Obviously, he has reached a position which I can only dream about. When Franz Beckenbauer enters the room, let’s say during talks with a sponsor, the outcome is certain. I’ll have to work hard to reach a satisfying result. I look forward to his recommendations.
Question: When will you first meet Franz Beckenbauer for a talk?
Jones: Hopefully, this Friday. I’d be very happy if he would wish me all the best. He is my idol, I’m really looking up to him.
Question: The media answered your appointment with a very positive echo. Are you surprised that Germans have already adopted you as the face of the 2011 World Cup?
Jones: There were some reservations and doubts on my part. I felt uncertain how the fans would accept me, Steffi Jones, as the President of the World Cup committee. But Dr. Theo Zwanziger, the DFB President, gave me the needed confidence. “Just take that step”, he said to me. And that’s what I did.
