JILLIAN ANGELINE / AIPS in AMMAN: The legacy of the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan continues to take shape. With the final match just hours away, the local organizing chairman Salah Sabra said his team were arranging for less fortunate Jordanians to be able to attend the Closing Ceremony and final. It had been a logistical challenge.

Sabra said: “We hope we will bring around 10,000 for the final match.

“This helps the poor who cannot watch or cannot come to the stadium to be able to come to the stadiums and enjoy the matches.”

Champions Japan face North Korea in the 13,000-capacity Amman International Stadium and Sabra said the organising committee was managing the transport of Jordanian residents who live away from the capital city of Amman, to the north and south.

The LOC is also making arrangements to bring in students from poor schools and others who do not have the means to attend the FIFA Women’s U-17 World Cup games.

This act alone is just one way the LOC is achieving efforts to carry out a legacy: bringing families back to the stadium.

“Here maybe the number will be less but at the Opening Ceremony we have 14,000 people, let’s say 50 percent of them women and the stadium looked fantastic,” said Sabra.

The LOC has already received thumbs up from FIFA, the worldwide football governing body, as the tournament draws to a close.

Sabra confirmed receipt of a letter from FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, congratulating his committee for its work in finishing 100 percent of the FIFA requirements to hold a tournament. “I think if you see the letter, which is sent by FIFA general secretary, it went very well.”

** AIPS is the international sports journalists’ association with 10,000 members worldwide – currently holding a Young Reporters graduation course in at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016. More information: www.AIPSmedia.com

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