KOCHI: The city’s golden chance to showcase its destination credentials before the world is round the corner.
Come July 9, and the who-is-who of the sporting and related bodies of the four nations short-listed to play group matches of the prestigious 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Kochi will fly down to take stock of the preparations and infrastructure facilities here. The high-profile visit will happen after the official draw which will be held in Mumbai on July 7. The tournament will be held in six Indian cities, including Kochi, from October 6 to 28.
“They [representatives of participating nations] will be taken to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium and other training grounds,” A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, the State government’s nodal officer for the event, told The Hindu on Saturday. Kochi will be hosting Group D matches in which four nations, out of the 24 participating in the event, will fight it out for top honours. Mr. Hanish said the representatives would be given an overall view of the infrastructure and allied features of the city during the visit.
The positioning of the countries in each group will be clear after the draw of lots, but officials pointed out that the first round of visit by representatives of countries in Group D will trigger a lot of interest about Kochi among football fans in nations short-listed to play here. “It will prompt these passionate fans to search about the city and its various credentials. The local media in these countries will also carry reports on the host city after the official draw of lots on July 7. For Kochi, it is a golden opportunity to showcase its rich tourism and cultural advantages,” he said.
The local organising committee is planning to give an audio-video presentation on tourism, culture, and hospitality of the city to the representatives. The promotion campaign will focus on leveraging the brand potential of ‘God’s Own Country’.
