The FA is sending out a delegation of expert speakers as part of The International Development Programme in conjunction with CONMEBOL and the Peruvian Football Federation. For the first time the theme will be the staging of a tournament. 

The Peruvian Football Federation see the event as a key component of their preparation for the Copa America to be staged in Peru in July of this year and, beyond that, for the FIFA U17 World Championships in 2005.

The FA is looking to share some of the knowledge and expertise gained in successfully staging the European Championships in 1996. The speakers include Glen Kirton, (Tournament Director of Euro 96), Ron Turnbull (Safety Officer, Middlesbrough FC), Andrin Cooper (FA Media Relations Manager) and Kim Fisher (FA International Relations Manager). 

The event will cover a range of topics including safety and security, PR and Media Service, VIP management and protocol, branding and various other operational aspects of a tournament.

The event follows on from the seminars on Stadium Safety and Security The FA ran in Ecuador and Chile in March this year and forms part of the FA-CONMEBOL Co-operation Programme activity for 2004, made possible by an agreement signed last year by FA Chairman Geoff Thompson and CONMEBOL President Dr Nicolas Leoz.

The Copa America will make use of some brand new stadiums in July and CONMEBOL, The FA and The Peruvian FF are taking great steps to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

The FA is very enthusiastic about the project. Kim Fisher, International Relations Manager said “Coupling some of the good practice our experts can give from our own tournament experiences with the immense passion for football in this part of the world should produce a memorable event and is good preparation for the FIFA youth tournament next year. We are proud to have been asked to lend our support and co-operation”.

The Tournament staging workshop is the latest example of The FA’s wide-ranging International Development Programme (IDP) activity. Through the IDP projects have been initiated in all confederations, ranging from goalkeeping courses to marketing, sports medicine, refereeing and administration workshops, each targeted at the specific needs of the region or country involved. The FA also holds annual international refereeing, fitness, sports medicine and coaching courses in England, attended by participants from all corners of the world. The IDP is now active in each of the 6 world confederations, namely AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North, Central America & the Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), UEFA (Europe) and the OFC (Oceania). To find out more about the work carried out under the IDP click here.

The workshop kicks off in Lima on Tuesday 13th April. Stay logged on for reports from the event.