GUWAHATI, March 26 - The FIFA inspection team which visited the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium here today appeared quite satisfied after assessing the preparedness of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 venue.
A 21 member delegation of the FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) visited the venue and was pleased with the preparations at the venue and the eagerness shown by the State government.
Addressing the media after the inspection, FIFA Head of Events, Jaime Yarza was sounded quite happy with the overall progress at the venue.
�The State government is wonderful and their eagerness to be a great venue for the first FIFA tournament in the country is worth lauding. We know how passionate the supporters are in this part of the country and hence, we�re very happy to see the developments and preparations here in Guwahati. We want to give the fans all over Northeast India, just like at other venues, a great World Cup,� Yarza said.
�There are minor issues to sort out � like development of a new hotel for teams but I believe we are well on schedule for the tournament.�
Tournament Director of the Local Organising Committee, Javier Ceppi, was also pleased with the progress shown.
�The State government of Assam has really taken the leadership when it comes to making the World Cup a huge effort in their State. We are already working on all operational and promotional matters to make sure that all the people of Assam and of the neighbouring Northeastern states can enjoy World Cup matches in the Northeast�.
Speaking about the venue which includes the stadium as well as training sites, he added: �The development in the stadium is very satisfactory and we are sure that the FIFA U-17 World Cup will do justice to the vision of CM Sarbananda Sonowal of making Guwahati the sports capital of India�.
Also present during the occasion were Ajay Tewari, sports commissioner, Government of Assam and Hemendra Nath Brahma, president, Assam Football Association.
The delegation will finish their week long inspection at Kolkata tomorrow.
