Chaired by OFC President David Chung, the Congress was attended by delegates of all 11 Member Associations of OFC as well as FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and FIFA Secretary General Jérôme Valcke.
President Chung provided the Congress with a ‘report card’ of activities undertaken in the last 12 months.
Presentations by OFC Secretariat staff confirmed a positive financial result in 2011 of NZD 2.5 million compared to NZD 1 million in 2010.
An update was also provided on the new OFC Home of Football with construction scheduled to get underway in mid-2012.
In other matters, the OFC Congress ratified an amendment to the Statutes to allow all 11 Member Associations to be represented on the Executive Committee while also agreeing to co-opt a woman onto the Executive as an observer for the first time.
The Congress agreed that the commercial rights for the Oceania qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup are to be centralised.
And finally, there was acknowledgement of FIFA’s decision to award OFC two slots for the FIFA Beach Soccer Championship 2013 – Tahiti as hosts plus the top qualifier from the OFC Beach Soccer Championship.
President Chung expressed his appreciation to the FIFA President for his enduring support to OFC.
“All that we have achieved in the last 12 months stems from the great support of the FIFA President and his administration. The future continues to look bright for our Confederation.”
President Blatter addressed the Congress and commented:
“I am always impressed with the professionalism and energy within OFC and I congratulate you for the way you are managing the development of football in your region and using football as a tool to build better communities.”
The 62nd FIFA Congress began in Budapest today and will conclude on Friday local time.