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Canberra's Olympic football pitch to be ripped up and returfed
SYDNEY, Aug 31 (AFP) - Canberra's Bruce Stadium will have its entire pitch ripped up and returfed in an attempt to get the ground up to scratch to host Olympic football matches. Australia's Olympics Minister Michael Knight said the current lumpy, patchwork grass was so bad that the 11 matches scheduled for Canberra might have to be shifted to other venues. "Our primary objectives are to ensure that Olympic football matches are played in Canberra as scheduled and that the pitch is of the highest possible standard," Knight said. "The best chance of achieving both objectives is by the decision we have taken today." New grass was laid at the stadium on August 8 but, having been grown in tropical Cairns, went into shock when subjected to Canberra's chilly climate. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates said on Tuesday that if the pitch failed to reach a standard suitable for football's world governing body FIFA, the games would be moved. The Australian women are scheduled to open their Games campaign against Germany on September 13 in Canberra. A total of six matches, including a semi-final in the women's series, are scheduled to be played at Bruce Stadium. Five men's games are due to be played there.
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