The number of staff remains modest for the time being, but the German Football Association (DFB) Organising Committee for the FIFA Women's World Cup is already hard at work preparing for the 2011 spectacular, the first time the event will be held in Germany. The host association officially took up its duties with the ceremonial opening of the OC office on Friday.

Franz Beckenbauer, President of the Organising Committee which made the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ such a resounding success around the globe, symbolically presented the office key to Steffi Jones, President of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 OC.

"The key is not only for you to open the doors to your own OC, but rather to open as many national and international doors as possible in support of your work," the Kaiser intoned. "Just as in 2006, the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 must be a communal effort, which can only be a major success by combining as many resources as possible."

Steffi Jones thanked the 'Kaiser' for his words: "I'm grateful for Franz Beckenbauer's support right from the start." Jones then addressed Dr Theo Zwanziger, a strong supporter and fan of women's football at the head of the DFB organisation: "In common with our President, the OC and I wish to provide a new impulse for girls' and women's football, above and beyond the FIFA World Cup."

VIP guests including DOSB President Dr Thomas Bach, Mayor of Frankfurt Petra Roth and FIFA'sJim Brown joined almost all the DFB Executive Committee, including Honorary President Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, Oliver Bierhoff and Matthias Sammer, for a one-hour informational get-together, featuring short films recalling the FIFA Women's World Cup bid and a hugely successful 2007 for German women's football.

Jones recruits five specialists to management team
DFB General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach also presented the five-strong management team appointed to assist Steffi Jones. Uli Wolter (33), who headed up the OC satellite office in Leipzig before and during the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was thus fully immersed in FIFA World Cup procedures, is responsible for operational preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 in the position of General Coordinator.

He is assisted by four heads of department: Heike Ullrich (38), an experienced women's football specialist, responsible for Tournament Organisation; 144-time Germany international Doris Fitschen (39), responsible for Marketing; Winfried Naß (54), boasting a wealth of practical FIFA World Cup experience from his time as head of the Frankfurt Arena, responsible for Cities and Stadiums; and Jens Grittner (37), a Media Officer for the 2006 OC, responsible for Communication.

'Entire OC organisation closely integrated with the DFB'
For the time being, other OC specialist areas will be managed by expert DFB staff. "On this occasion, the entire organisation is much more closely integrated with the DFB than was possible in the preparatory phase for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Many full-time DFB specialists will deploy their expertise and time on behalf of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011," explained DFB President Dr. Theo Zwanziger.

The 2011 OC will benefit from a lot more than merely the structures established by its predecessor. The very location which housed the guiding hands behind the successful 2006 event will also provide a home to the 2011 team, in the bridge extension to the DFB headquarters building on Otto-Fleck-Schneise in Frankfurt. "Our OC is not starting from scratch," 35-year-old OC chief Steffi Jones commented.

Furthermore, a team of well-known personalities will be appointed as FIFA Women's World Cup ambassadors. During the get-together at DFB headquarters, Jones named the first member of her 'diplomatic corps' as her former team-mate Sandra Minnert, a two-time FIFA World Cup winner and four-time European champion.

Three-and-a-half years to prepare
Preparations have begun three-and-a-half years ahead of the event this time, two years less than for the 2006 FIFA World Cup: Beckenbauer and his team took up their duties in early January 2001. This means important decisions regarding the tournament will have to be taken this year. FIFA is set to determine the exact dates for the event, and even more importantly the size of the starting field, on 14 March. This will allow the OC to begin the final selection process for the Host Cities, with 12 cities having put themselves forward for consideration.

Other milestones in 2008 include the unveiling of the logo and slogan. The DFB Executive Committee will also sign off the OC budget at its meeting on 29 February. This is certain to be substantially less than the €430 million made available to the 2006 OC. "Once again, we will definitely not require any form of public subsidy for our budget plan," commented DFB General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach.

In order to ensure financing of the organisational costs through funds specifically generated for the purpose, the process of attracting six national sponsors and marketing partners has already begun. Franz Beckenbauer is exceptionally well-placed to open one or two important doors to his successor at the head of the OC Executive Committee table. "I'd be delighted to accept every tip and offer of help on his part," Steffi Jones declared during her exchange with the Kaiser at the opening of the OC office.