Tag: Euro 2020

Euro 2020 not on Turkey’s agenda

The comments were made after UEFA president Michel Platini said he wanted the semi-finals and final to be held in Turkey.

“I think it’s very clear we are just for the Olympic Games,” Hasan Arat told reporters after the Frenchman’s comments.

“There is no official interest and these comments come from UEFA.”

Turkey had been favourites to host Euro 2020 before the football governing body decided the tournament would be spread across ’12 or 13 European cities’ for the first time.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) does not allow a country to host two major sporting events within the same year, and as such Arat confirmed he will advise the IOC evaluation committee that Turkey’s sole focus would be on the Olympics rather than the Euros.

“I think it’s very clear we are just for the Olympic Games. There is no other agenda, this is our number one agenda and that’s what we will tell the evaluation committee,” he added.

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February 27, 2013
England hope to host Euro 2020 final if Istanbul awarded Olympics

England hope to host Euro 2020 final if Istanbul awarded Olympics

Monday, 24 September 2012

By Andrew Warshaw

wembley stadium_24-09-123September 24 – The English Football Association (FA) will propose Wembley Stadium to host the semi-finals and final of the 2020 European Championship if UEFA President Michel Platini’s plan to hold the tournament across Europe comes to fruition, FA chairman David Bernstein revealed today.

With the finals expanding to 24 teams in France in 2016, Platini wants the 2020 event to take place in 12 or 13 European countries with the latter stages at one venue, an idea that will be discussed by UEFA’s Executive Committee in December with a decision early next year.

Bernstein told a media briefing at Wembley: “Clearly Wembley is incredibly highly thought of by UEFA and it is something we will probably push for.

“UEFA want to hold the semi-finals and the final on the same ground, or in the same city and I think we would be on their shortlist – but there would be some strong competition.”

Turkey is still Platini’s preferred option but their bid will be dropped if Istanbul is awarded the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the same year.

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have also declared their interest in staging the finals together.

Wembley staged last year’s UEFA Champions League final and will be the venue again in 2013 to coincide with the FA’s 150th anniversary.

wembley stadiumWembley Stadium hosted last year’s UEFA Champions League final

Bernstein continued: “One of the major factors is whether Turkey get the Olympic Games or not.

“If Turkey do not get the Olympic Games then I think they are in a pretty good position to stage the Euros.

“If we believed there was a real opportunity of having the tournament here of course we would look at it.

“If Michel Platini’s current views prevail and it becomes a pan-European competition, then the focus needs to be on the semi-finals and final.”

After England’s doomed bid to stage the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the FA would be reluctant to get into any kind of bidding war.

But apart from the London Olympics, Euro 1996 was the latest major international sporting event in the country.

via England hope to host Euro 2020 final if Istanbul awarded Olympics | Football | insidethegames.biz.

September 25, 2012
Wembley could host Euro 2020 final

Wembley in pole position to host Euro 2020 final as part of continent-wide tournament

By Sportsmail Reporter

Wembley could host the Euro 2020 final as part of a radical plan to host the tournament across 12 different countries.

The ambitious blueprint is the idea of UEFA president Michel Platini and will be put to delegates in December ahead of a vote in January or February.

UEFA hope to create a ‘Finals Week’ with the semis and final played in one city.

In the running: Wembley could host the Euro 2020 final

And according to the Sunday Mirror, London is among the major contenders to land the honour.

Turkey had been favourite to host the event in 2020, but their bid has hit difficulties due to a desire to host the Olympic Games in Istanbul in the same year.

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have also formally declared an interest in hosting Euro 2020.

Earlier this summer, Platini said: ‘This matter will be discussed very seriously. We will have a great debate about 2020 and discuss the pros and cons.

Man with the plan: Michel Platini wants to host Euro 2020 across the continent

Man with the plan: Michel Platini wants to host Euro 2020 across the continent

‘It’s an idea I feel really passionate about, it will be a lot easier from a financial perspective.

‘We are not going to wait until we know whether Turkey are going to get the Olympics.

‘It creates a problem for us. We do have other candidates. Everyone has the possibility to host it.

‘It is easier to go from London to Paris or Berlin than Cardiff to Gdansk. It would be four games per venue. It is a great debate.’

via Wembley could host Euro 2020 final | Mail Online.

September 3, 2012
Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland interested in Euro 2020 bid

Hampden Park

Countries have until midnight on Tuesday night to declare an interest in hosting Euro 2020. Photograph: Bongarts/Getty Images

Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland have formally declared an interest in hosting Euro 2020. A source close to Uefa has confirmed that a written expression of interest has been submitted by the countries to host the European Championships on a three-way basis.

So far Turkey are the only other nation to inform Uefa that they want to want host the tournament. The European governing body has a deadline of midnight on Tuesday night for any other declarations of interest.

Bidders would need to put forward up to 10 stadiums to host matches in the European Championships, which is being expanded from 16 teams to 24 from 2016. Scotland and Wales would struggle to provide that number of stadiums to satisfy Uefa requirements but Ireland’s involvement would cover the shortfall.

The formal declaration of interest does not commit the Celtic countries to proceeding with a bid – a decision is not due to be taken by Uefa for 18 months.

The countries have not fared well in the past in bidding for the tournament. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland bid jointly for Euro 2008 but were one of the first to be eliminated, and Scotland and Wales considered bidding jointly for Euro 2016 but decided against it.

Turkey’s bid is in some disarray already because their FA has been engulfed by allegations of corruption and match-fixing in Turkish football, and it also conflicts with Istanbul’s bid to land the Olympics in the same year. The Uefa president, Michel Platini, had signalled he would support Turkey bid but only if Istanbul fails to secure the Olympics.

The Scottish Football Association chief executive, Stewart Regan, said the idea of bidding for Euro 2020 had been discussed but would not confirm or deny whether an expression of interest had been made.

“I’m not able to comment publicly at this stage because it has not gone to our board but there will be an exchange of correspondence before the deadline,” he said. “It’s obviously something that has been discussed.”

Asked if Scotland and Wales would be able to meet the Uefa criteria for stadiums, Regan replied: “There are other ways of skinning a cat and alternative ways of being considered for a major tournament.”

via Scotland, Wales and Republic of Ireland interested in Euro 2020 bid | Football | guardian.co.uk.

May 16, 2012
Olympics Features: Istanbul 2020: NOC of Turkey has new plan and bid is a national priority

Minister for Youth and Sport Suat Kilic reaffirmed that the Olympic bid is national priority / Istanbul 2020

LAURA WALDEN / Sports Features Communications

May 9 – The National Olympic Committee of Turkey has a new plan to use sport as an educational instrument together with the 2020 bid to promote healthy lifestyles to the younger generation and bring about social change.

NOC head and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, Professor Ugur Erdener, who is also in charge of the International Archery Federation, said, “Our objective is clear: we want to inject ideals of Olympism in our public through Olympic values and provide a strong representation of our nation in the international sports arena.

“Our athletes are the guides spreading the spirit of Olympism. They respect and protect the Olympic values, they are our heroes who inspire the future generations.

“This plan is the first step in a long term project which covers the Turkish National Olympic Committee’s objective to host 2020 Olympic Games and taking Turkish sport to new horizons.”

The new strategy was drawn from the experience of over 1,000 stakeholders across the nation and focuses on the country’s rapidly growing economic situation. Turkey’s economy grew 8.5% last year beating even China and the new plan targets the 20 million people who are under 20 years of age to bring about long term sport and social benefits.

The NOC intends to use the high level sports venues to promote sport in Turkey and to compound on the already strong foundation the country has as one of the top ten in the world for sport.

Turkey’s Minister for Youth and Sport, Suat Kiliç, was present at the announcement of the plan and said, “We believe that sport carries great importance in building a strong future for our children. We are determined to raise and advance our talented young population through a strong bond between education and sport.

“Turkey has hosted many Olympic events in recent years. They have increased Turkish citizens’ passion for Olympic sports and provided them with valuable organisational experience.

“Turkey is now ready to be a strong partner of the International Olympic Committee. As the Minister of Youth and Sport, I wholeheartedly support the efforts of Turkish National Olympic Committee in developing Turkish sport.”

Kilic also drove home the importance of the Olympic bid,“Our Prime Minister announced the bid himself, and Istanbul 2020 retains the same support from the same highest level. We will fulfil every requirement to win the right to host the Games, under the leadership of our Prime Minister.

“The new strategic plan is particularly focused on two areas – providing a solid relationship between education and sports and creating a bridge to the world stage for aspiring young Turkish athletes. Hasan Arat, a leading member of the Istanbul 2020 bid team and Vice President of Turkey’s National Olympic Committee, spoke of how the Istanbul 2020 bid would help drive both areas of the plan:

“For many young athletes there is often a difficulty in balancing education and sport, and for turning a passion for sport into a career. Thanks to Turkey’s growing economy, and its stable political situation, we are now in a position to be able to devote the investment needed to solving this problem, with Istanbul’s 2020 bid as the catalyst.

“Already our bid is connecting the Olympic Movement with the country’s young population, raising its profile among a brand new audience. But there is a lot still to be done; this new strategy is just an early indicator of the changes the 2020 Games could inspire in our country.”

Istanbul is bidding against Baku, Doha, Madrid and Tokyo to host the summer Olympics of 2020.

The IOC will vote the final host city on September 7 of 2013 in Buenos Aires.

via Olympics Features: Istanbul 2020: NOC of Turkey has new plan and bid is a national priority.

May 10, 2012
Turkey must choose: Games or Euros

istanbul

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.

May 9, 2012