Tokyo, 24 February 2010 – The Japan 2018/2022 Bid Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of
three much-loved Japanese players as Bid Ambassadors to support its campaign to bring the FIFA World Cup™to Japan. The three new ambassadors are: Masashi Nakayama (Consadole Sapporo), who famously scored Japan’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1998; Toshiya Fujita (Roasso Kumamoto), who was a mainstay of the national team from 1999 to 2005; and Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, (Vissel Kobe), who captained the Japan National Team at the FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006.

With their long and distinguished careers in both domestic and international football, the Bid Committee is
confident that the participation of these three iconic players will be a big boost to Japan’s bid. We are grateful for their support.


Bid Ambassador Comments

• Masashi Nakayama (Consadole Sapporo, Japan National Team 1990-2003, Honorary Chairman of J.League Players’ Association)

“I want everyone here in Japan to be able to experience the fabulousness of international football first-hand.
Bidding for the FIFA World Cup will unite us all around a shared goal. I hope we can get the message out that a tournament held in Japan will be something very special indeed, and that we will make a great job of it.”


• Toshiya Fujita (Roasso Kumamoto, Japan National Team 1999-2005, Chairman of J.League Players’
Association)

“As a footballer naturally I’m thrilled to have been invited to play a part in Japan’s World Cup bid. I’m going to work hard so Japan can host the tournament again and we can all enjoy the unbeatable excitement of football.”


• Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Vissel Kobe, Japan National Team 2000-2006)

“As a Bid Ambassador, I’m going to do my best to help Japan get the chance to experience the excitement and emotion of the FIFA World Cup again.”


Video Messages
Video messages from the new Bid Ambassadors will be uploaded to the Bid Committee Official Web Site (www.dream2018-2022.jp) in early March.


Key Duties of Bid Ambassadors
Bid Ambassadors promote Japan’s Bid by providing video messages, making themselves available for interviews, providing comments relating to the bid, and taking part in bid-related events. They also provide advice on the bid.

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