6-10 September
Dates reserved for official competition matches
16-17 September Johannesburg
Meeting of the Board of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa
19 September Zurich
Technical and Development Committee meeting
22 September Zurich
Meetings of the Sports Medical Committee and the Football Committee
23 September Zurich
Meetings of the Players’ Status Committee and the Associations Committee
24 September Zurich
Meetings of the Club Football Committee, the Media Committee and the Committee for Women’s Football and the FIFA Women’s World Cup
30 September-19 October
FIFA Futsal World Cup Brazil 2008
11-15 October
Dates reserved for official competition matches
21 October Zurich
Referees Committee meeting
(1st part; List of International Referees 2009)
22 October Zurich
Meetings of the Referees Committee (2nd part) and the Goal Bureau
23 October Zurich
Meetings of the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee (1st part)
24 October Zurich
Executive Committee meeting (2nd part)
28 October-16 November
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008
19 November
Date reserved for friendly matches
19 November-7 December
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008
25-26 November Johannesburg
Meeting of the Board of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organising Committee South Africa
11-21 December
FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2008
18 December Tokyo
Meetings of the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee (1st part)
19 December Tokyo
Executive Committee meeting (2nd part)

FIFA competitions, or at least the lion’s share of them, traditionally take place in the second half of any given calendar year. 2008 is no different. First up was the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Marseille 2008 on the sands of southern France between 17 and 27 July when there was no shortage of spectacular matches or stunning strikes. The eyes of the world then shifted to Beijing for the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments (6-23 August) but there will be no let-up in the action in the rest of 2008 either, with one tournament after another. First of all, the world’s futsal elite will be in Brazil between 30 September and 19 October to determine the new world champion before the focus moves to New Zealand and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup from 28 October to 16 November. And then, just a few days later, Chile will play host to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup between 19 November and 7 December. Last but by no means least, the FIFA Club World Cup will take centre stage in Japan between 11 and 21 December. I have no doubt whatsoever that these four tournaments will follow the lead of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Football Tournaments and give us fascinating, thrilling matches with perfect organisation, a peaceful atmosphere and many enthusiastic spectators.
Of all the tournaments in 2008, however, it is to the Olympic Football Tournaments that I would like to give a special mention, especially as FIFA’s oldest competition this year celebrated its 100th anniversary in the Chinese capital. Olympic football is always a huge draw for the fans, often leaving other sports such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics in the shade.
In 1908, 2,000 fans flocked to London’s White City Stadium for the opening match of the first official Olympic Football Tournament held under the aegis of FIFA. Football had been a demonstration sport in 1900 and 1904, after which it became the first team sport to be included in the Olympic family. At the Games in Atlanta 88 years later, around 1.4 million fans filled the stadiums at an average of more than 40,000 per matchday. In 1968, the match for third place in the Olympic Football Tournament in Mexico City drew 105,000 fans, and in Sydney in 2000, that record was nearly matched with 104,000 watching the final. And in 2008?
The Men’s Olympic Football Tournament has been a U-23 tournament since 1992. The competition has not lost any of its attraction, Action-packed calendar though – on the contrary. Many leading players yearn to play in the Olympics, and Beijing 2008 has been no different, with 16 teams doing battle for gold, silver and bronze. And then there is the women’s tournament, which was first introduced to the Olympics in 1996. Beijing 2008 is the first time that the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament has featured 12 teams — yet more proof of the huge strides taken by the women’s game. For the Game. For the World.

On 30 May 2008, the 58th FIFA Congress ratified the 2009 World Anti-Doping Code (175 votes in favour, 1 against). Version 3.0 of the code includes individual case management regarding sanctions, a principle that FIFA has always advocated. In addition, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter and WADA President John Fahey signed a declaration based on the approval of the World Anti-Doping Code by the FIFA Executive Committee and its ratification by the FIFA Congress, as well as on the letter of intent agreed on by both organisations in Zurich on 29 February 2008.
“We are convinced that together with President Fahey we will be able to show to the world what we, at FIFA, do for the fight against doping. We will also put at the disposal of WADA all of our medical officers ail around the world,” said the FIFA President. Fahey, meanwhile, stated that: “I acknowledge the support given by FIFA to WADA and to the fight against doping in sport. The fight must go on, in the interest of sport and of public health. The commitment of FIFA has been strong and I believe it will be even stronger in the years to come. This document ratifies, reaffirms and endorses the commitment and cooperation that WADA and FiFA have and will continue to have in the future. I look forward to our continued cooperation.”
In the declaration, FIFA and WADA state that they will continue their close cooperation in the common objective of fighting against doping through all possible means. FIFA also declares its unconditional support for WADA in the fight against doping, whereas WADA declares its respect for the specificity of team sports as compared to individual sports and agrees to continue to discuss with FIFA the practicalities and specific issues related to team sports.
The 2009 World Anti-Doping Code will be fully integrated into the FIFA rules and regulations as from 1 January 2009.