Proposed 2012 sport: Football

The spiritual home of Welsh sport, the Millennium Stadium has also witnessed some of the greatest recent moments in UK and international sport. It hosted the final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup between Australia and France. While Wembley has been rebuilt, it has also welcomed football's FA Cup every May. And, most importantly for Welsh fans, it was also the scene of their country's fantastic victory over Italy in a Euro 2004 qualifying tie.

First proposed in 1994 and opened for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, the stadium staged its first game in June 1999 when Wales beat South Africa 29-19. Widely regarded as one of the world's very best and most modern venues, it has since hosted concerts, indoor cricket and speedway as well as football and rugby.

(Taken from the Official London 2012 Website)

London's Success: "Breathtaking"
(MS Press Release - 6th July 2005)

London has won the 2012 Olympic Games and the Millennium Stadium will be playing its part in the 30th Olympiad by hosting at least eight soccer matches. The news from Singapore, where the International Olympic Committee made its decision, was received with rapturous applause in the WREX room at the Millennium Stadium where chief executive Paul Sergeant had gathered staff, media and one very special guest, Welsh Olympic gold medallist Lynn Davies.

This was how 'Lynn the Leap', the 1964 long jump champion in Tokyo, reacted to the final verdict that saw London beat Paris to the games.

"It is staggering, almost unbelievable. This is the greatest day in the history of British sport," claimed Davies. "The British bid was fantastic and Seb Coe did a magnificent job in hitting exactly the right notes in his address. This decision will revolutionise sport in the UK over the next decade and should finally bring sport to somewhere near the top of the political agenda.

"The Olympic Games in 2012 should become the focus for everyone in the UK over the next seven years. It will be a catalyst for the youth of our nation and will provide London with a long lasting legacy.

"The impact of hosting the Games will be felt throughout the UK and the economic benefits of hosting more than one million visitors is bound to be a boost to the whole country. This is an incredible opportunity for our nation and one which will have far reaching implications.

"It is brilliant news for the Millennium Stadium and the eight soccer matches they will stage in 2012 will allow the whole of Wales to really get behind the Games."

As for Sergeant, he said the decision was "breathtaking" and was the icing on the cake in a 12 month period that has seen the Millennium Stadium produce record attendance figures for the Autumn Series of rugby internationals, stage the ground breaking Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert, provide the venue on which Wales won their first Grand Slam in 27 years, install a revolutionary curtain to create an indoor arena and host concerts from U2 and REM.

"In 24 years in this business I don't think I have ever been so overwhelmed by a decision. For the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff and Wales to be able to look forward to playing its part in an Olympic Games is a magical feeling," said Sergeant.

"We are very proud of the fact the Millennium Stadium was part of the London bid and we look forward to hosting the eight soccer games we are contracted to stage in 2012. It just proves there is no sporting event in the world that can't find a home here at the Millennium."

Back the Bid
(MS Press Release - 5th July 2005)

As the countdown to the vote to see who wins the right to host the 2012 Olympic Games reaches its last few hours, the Millennium Stadium is backing Lord Coe and his London team to win the race and bring the Games back to Britain for the first time since 1948.

"The whole of Wales has got behind the London 2012 bid and the Millennium Stadium is ready, willing and able to play its part in seven years time should London beat off the challenges of Paris, Moscow, Madrid and New York.

"The Millennium Stadium is one of the venues short-listed to host football matches in 2012 and the impact a successful London bid would have on British sport as a whole would be fantastic.

"The London bid leaders, Lord Coe and Keith Mills, have done a great job in narrowing the gap on the favourites Paris and Madrid and when the 116 International Olympic Committee members take their decision in Singapore on Wednesday it looks as though it is going to be a close run affair.

"While London will be the epicentre of the bid, Lord Coe and his team have ensured that the rest of the UK gets involved by including venues such as the Millennium Stadium, Scotland's Hampden Park and Northern Ireland's Windsor Park in the bid.

"Cardiff has a long association with world class sport which dates back to 1884, when Wales played Ireland in a rugby international at Cardiff Arms Park. Since then the Welsh capital has hosted the Commonwealth Games, the Rugby World Cup, regular rugby and soccer internationals and, of course, the world heavyweight boxing championship fight between Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.

"Wales will be heavily involved in the staging of the 2007 Rugby World Cup and in 2010 the Ryder Cup will be staged at the Celtic manor resort.

"But the addition of an Olympic link would truly be the icing on the cake. In fact, it would be the sprinkles on top of the cream on top of the cherry on the top of the icing on the cake!

"The hardest currency in world sport is an Olympic gold medal. The Games are the greatest sporting event staged and to be involved in any capacity would be an honour and a privilege.

"Having backed the London bid right from the start, I'm sure I speak for every sports fan in Wales when I wish Lord Coe and his team the very best of luck in Singapore.

"Let's hope they can pull it off and bring the Olympic Games back to Britain."
 
Stadium Backing London 2012 bid
(MS Press Release - 16th January 2004)

The Millennium Stadium is delighted to announce the news that it has been included as one of the proposed football venues in the  bid being put forward by London to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

At 11.00am today - Friday 16th January 2004 - at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, Barbara Cassani (Head of the London 2012 bid team) and Ken Livingstone (Mayor of London) officially launched their bid document to end a wait of 64 years for the UK to host the Olympic Games.


Other cities set to bid for the right to host the summer Games in 2012 are Havana, Istanbul, Leipzig, Madrid, Moscow, New York, Paris and Rio de Janeiro.


Today sees both London and Paris enter the bidding race in earnest by officially launching their campaigns having sent their documentation through to the International Olympic Committee.


“There may be a long way to go before the IOC announces the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games, but it is a great honour for the Millennium Stadium to be included as part of the London bid,” said Millennium Stadium chairman, David Pickering.
“The Millennium Stadium, built at the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing capital cities, has been the home to international sport for almost 125 years.
“The Cardiff Arms Park site on which the stadium was erected has witnessed the 1999 Rugby World Cup final, the 1958 Commonwealth Games, the FA Cup final, World Championship boxing, international soccer, rugby league, and cricket, world class speedway and even greyhound racing.
“There is little or nothing that this great stadium cannot provide a home for in the sporting world and to be part of a successful bid to bring the Olympic Games to the UK would be fantastic.”


Key Dates on the Road to 2012

January 16 2004: Cities send details of their bids to the IOC
May 18 2004: London accepted as an IOC Candidate City
August 13 2004: Athens Olympic Games begins
November 15 2004: Cities submit complete bids
Feb-March 2005: IOC evaluation commission inspect cities
May 2005: Report of the evaluation commission
July 6 2005: London beats off competition from its rivals including Paris to win the right to host the 30th Olympic Games - Millennium Stadium is short-listed to be involved as a 2012 Venue