Bristol bids for World Cup games

Bristol City's proposed new stadium will be the centrepiece of the bid

Bristol is bidding to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup.

The city is playing up its geographic location as the only other city outside London bidding to host games south of Birmingham.

It is hoped Bristol City's proposed new stadium at Ashton Vale will become the centrepiece of the bid.

Richard Barrington, of West of England Sport Trust, said it was important to compete "with the Manchesters and Sheffields of this world".

'Green spaces'

The team behind the bid hope Bristol's geographical position - as the gateway to the South West - will be key in securing matches.

In July a team from Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) will visit the city.

They are expected to look at the city's green spaces including The Downs and Ashton Court as potential locations for fans' villages for supporters from around the world.

In December the city will find out if it is a candidate city and then in December 2010 if the FA will be hosting the event in 2018.

Mr Barrington is business development manager at Wesport which aims to to increase and promote participation in sport in the Greater Bristol area.

"Although 2018 is a long way into the future it allows us to look ahead and put legacy work in place around football, schools and the community to take us into next decade.

"The new stadium [at Ashton Vale] is going through the planning process and needs to stand on its own two legs as a stadium relevant to Bristol and the South West."