Turkey submits bid to host Euro 2020
Reuters - Tuesday 17 April 2012, 18:11
Turkey submitted its bid on
Tuesday to host the 2020 European Championships, less than a
month after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan began the race to
stage one of football's biggest tournaments.
Erdogan told delegates at a UEFA congress in Istanbul last
month that Turkey wanted to host Euro 2020, delivering a blow to
Istanbul's 2020 Olympic candidacy because bidding for two major
events usually held only weeks apart is unlikely to be
successful.
Turkey missed out on hosting Euro 2016 by one vote but since
then the country's football economy has expanded to become the
sixth biggest in Europe, Turkish Football Federation President
Yildirim Demiroren said in a statement.
"The construction of modern football stadiums, backed by
state guarantees, in cities around the countries and the
development of transport links are among the most important
elements supporting our bid," Yildirim added.
"The Turkish Football Federation will provide every effort
to host the Europe 2020."
After Erdogan's announcement, UEFA president Michel Platini
said that if Turkey failed to win the Olympic bid, it would be a
stronger candidate for the European Championships.