The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Organising Committee under President Steffi Jones officially took up its duties on Friday. A number of high-ranking VIP guests attended the opening ceremony in Frankfurt, all expressing keen anticipation ahead of the forthcoming event in Germany.

Petra Roth, Mayor of Frankfurt
I was there on the touchlines back in 1981 when Steffi Jones began playing football. Nothing she's achieved in her career has been served up on a plate, she's had a typical Frankfurt career - effort, women and Frankfurt go together.

Bernd Holzenbein, 1974 FIFA World Cup winner
This was my spontaneous thought during the event - this woman is sensational. When she introduced herself as OC President, Steffi Jones came across as eloquent, likeable and natural. It was the performance of a world champion.

Heribert Bruchhagen, Eintracht Frankfurt chairman
It's a real pleasure simply to witness how her open and charming personality comes across. Steffi Jones is the authentic choice as OC President for the Women's World Cup in 2011.

Dr Theo Zwanziger, German Football Association President
Franz Beckenbauer's record of service to German football is unique, not just as a player but especially in relation to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It says much for the man that he has passed all that on to the new President, symbolised in the handing over of the key. Steffi, what Franz has and continues to achieve, you can achieve too in your own way. We thank FIFA for entrusting us with the hosting of the FIFA Women's World Cup, and I guarantee we will not disappoint.

Wolfgang Niersbach, German Football Association General Secretary: The signs increasingly point to the Opening Match in Berlin and the Final in Frankfurt, provided the cities fulfil the commercial criteria. We have had a clear signal from FIFA that our desire to stage the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 in the summer break will be accommodated.

Dr. Thomas Bach, President of the German Olympic Sports Federation
I hear nothing but positive reactions from around the world to FIFA's choice of Germany. It will be a very different FIFA World Cup, but it will be just as fine. The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 will have a lasting effect on the women's game.

Silvia Neid, Germany coach
Obviously we have some real personalities in the team at the moment. But we also know it'll be a completely different type of pressure in the summer of 2011. Even now, we're keeping close tabs on a clutch of promising hopefuls who may feature at the Women's World Cup in 2011, and we'll challenge and develop them over the coming years.