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Downpour rains on Australia's World Cup bid parade

A massive picnic held on Sydney's iconic harbor bridge to help push Australia's bid for the 2022 World Cup today was hit by an untimely downpour, causing hundreds of participants to run for cover.

Picnic-goers had queued patiently for a 0630 start (1930 GMT) to 'Breakfast on the Bridge', an event linked to a food festival that was expected to attract some 6,000 people.

Many brought rain-proof ponchos with their croissants and champagne but a sustained deluge less than an hour into the event proved too much of a dampener for many.

"We just had a little downpour," laughed a media spokesman linked to the event. "A few people left ... Now there's hardly a cloud in the sky, would you believe?"

Football Federation Australia (FFA), which sponsored the event and laid down 11,000 square meters of real grass along the bridge, brought national team players and rolled a four-meter ball through the sodden picnic to promote Australia's bid.

"Breakfast on the Bridge is a wonderful example of what Sydney and our nation has to offer -- just look at this magnificent harbor landscape. It is picture perfect," FFA Chairman Frank Lowy said, despite the weather.

Australia has promised to spend A$2.8 billion (US$2.76 billion) to build and renovate stadiums and infrastructure in its bid for the 2022 World Cup.

 

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