According to The Daily Telegraph, the New South Wales (NSW) Opposition Leader, Mark Speakman, says NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has “dropped the ball” on activating Sydney during the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.
The NSW Opposition Leader represents about a 3rd of New South Wales electors.
It comes after Sydney Spectaculars, in early April, undesignated the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 from being an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular after finding no evidence of an attempt to put on a Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks, light, projection or drone show for the Final, nearly 3 years after winning the bid to host the Final & with less than 5 months until that event.
Given this is only a month after the NSW State Election, an equal amount of blame should be placed on the Opposition, who were in Government before the said election, as an event of this magnitude requires more than 6 months of planning for a Sydney Spectacular to be held. However, we cannot be sure if FIFA overruled them in any respect.
Last week, a City of Sydney Liberal Councillor, Lyndon Gannon, as well as former Socceroo, Robbie Slater, criticised the City of Sydney & the NSW Government respectively for not treating the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 as the “once in a generation” event as it is – 5 days into the month-long tournament. This was mainly in regards to street activations, banners & live sites.
The Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003, which was the next largest international sporting event Sydney has hosted, had 4 live sites during the tournament in Sydney alone – at Tumbalong Park, The Rocks, the Sydney Opera House & The Overflow at Sydney Olympic Park while a 5th live site was set up in The Domain for the Final, after the Wallabies made it to that match. Rugby World Cup 2003 sponsors also ‘took over’ Sydney pubs, bars, Rugby Union clubs, transport hubs & shopping centres turning Sydney into 1 big Rugby Union festival.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 only has the sole FIFA Fan Festival live site at Tumbalong Park as well as 2 live sites, not FIFA-run, in Parramatta & Blacktown. The Final also has live sites, not FIFA-run, in Marrickville & Randwick.
It should be noted that the City of Sydney has no control over Sydney Harbour, it’s Bridge & the Opera House despite hosting Sydney New Year’s Eve annually. The NSW Government has sole final control.
Sydney hosts the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Sunday the 20th of August 2023.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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