Turkey must choose: Games or Euros

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At a crossroads: The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, which is in the running for both the Olympics and the European soccer championships in 2020. Picture: Supplied.

TURKEY will have to withdraw its bid to host Euro 2020 if Istanbul is awarded the Olympics in the same year, the IOC has said.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said in an interview that IOC rules state that a Games host country cannot hold another major sports event in the same year.

“Initially they will be judged on their technical capacity on May 23 in Quebec City,” said the 70-year-old Belgian, referring to the IOC members’ vote on selecting the short-list for the 2020 Games.

“In other words their potential to host the Games.

“On September 7 next year in Buenos Aires, if Istanbul is elected we will respectfully ask them not to host the European Championships.

“Ultimately, it will be for the government (in Ankara) to make their mind up but I would say the election would be conditional on not organising another competition.”

Istanbul, who were considered a leading candidate to host the Games after several failed bids, were dealt a huge blow when Turkey unexpectedly declared their candidacy for Euro 2020.

Until then, bid organisers had understood that the government’s priority was the hosting of the Games.

Turkey’s bid for the Euro is largely seen as being motivated by enthusiastic soundings from UEFA president Michel Platini, who believes there are few countries capable of hosting the showpiece tournament.

Rogge insisted, however, that the apparent conflict should not ordinarily affect Istanbul’s ability to make the Olympics short-list.

Istanbul, a historic city at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is competing against Tokyo, Madrid, Doha and Baku.

Tokyo, which hosted the Games back in 1964, is seen as the early favourite. Madrid lost out to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 competition but Spain is currently in the grip of a deep recession.

Doha, capital of the 2022 soccer World Cup hosts Qatar, failed to make the short-list last time round.

via Turkey must choose: Games or Euros | News.com.au.