Olympic Football Tournament Draw taskes place at Wembley Stadium
Olympic Football heading to the ity of Coventry Stadium.
Coventry was today gearing up to welcome 14 countires to the city after the draw was made for the London 2012 Football Tournament.
Both the men’s and women’s teams from Japan and the highly rated Mexican men’s team will all play games at the City of Covetnry Stadium from July 25 – while Senegal who secured their spot at London 2012 with a thrilling 2-0 victory over Oman on Tuesday will return.
Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the City of Coventry Stadium as the Ricoh Arena will be known during Games-time, said the draw had been perfect for the venue and added that he was confident the already impressive ticket sales would improve still further.
“To have both Japanese teams here is a really positive result both for the city and the venue,” he said.
“Judging from the amount of Japanese media at the draw at Wembley, I am sure there will be masses of coverage for the city when Games-time arrives.
“We always knew we wouldn’t get the very big teams but if somebody had told me we would get Japan, Mexico and Senegal before the draw I would certainly have taken that.
“Our opening double-header, the first 2012 action in England, will create a really good crowd and I am sure set the perfect scene for what should be a frantic eight days. It will be great to have four big international teams in the first double-header – Japan, Canada, Sweden and South Africa.
“I think Tuesday’s game really brought home the fact that we are within touching distance of hosting the world’s biggest sporting occasion and the second biggest football tournament on the planet. I can’t wait.”
Senegal, who clinched their place with a 2-0 win over Oman, face their last group game against United Arab Emirates.
Their coach, former Birmingham City coach Aliou Cisse, said: “We were welcomed very well in Coventry and it will be very good to be returning to the city once again.
“Tuesday night was an historic moment for our country and we aim to do as well as possible.
“Great Britain will be favourites but we will do the best we possibly can for our country.”
Cisse would not be drawn on whether Newcastle United’s Premier League strikers Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse would be called up to the squad.
