This career does have some great moments! Last night was one of them as I got to meet Liverpool legend Ian Rush. We're both currently in El Salvador - me to present my credentials to the Foreign Minister (as part of the official process to become the non-resident UK Ambassador here) and Ian to scout for young footballing talent. We got talking about just how brilliant it would be for England to host the 2018 football World Cup - Ian was barely a toddler last time round! To help our campaign to win the vote in Guatemala, Ian kindly helped us out with some autographs on shirts and footballs that we can now use to stir up some enthusiasm. (For more on the bid, see www.2018england.co.uk).
Interestingly, Ian and his team had just come from holding football clinics in Honduras. While much is still operating normally there, Honduran politics remain tense and polarised. The de facto Government has annouced elections for 29 November; President Zelaya has called for them to be boycotted. There is still no agreement to implement the San Jose package that includes the return of President Zelaya to Honduras. But there is increasing international pressure for an agreement - not least ahead of elections, which a number of countries have already said they would not recognise if held in the current circumstances.
Landing in the lush green of El Salvador
Ian Rush shows his support for the 2018 England World Cup bid
Posted at 22:43 27 August 2009 by Julie Chappell | Comments[0]
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