Turkey told to choose between Olympics and Euro 2020
LAUSANNE: Turkey will have to withdraw its bid to host the 2020 European football championships if Istanbul is awarded the Olympic Games in the same year, the president of the International Olympic Committee told AFP on Tuesday.
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 Rogge, referring to the IOC members’ vote on the short-list for the 2020 Games.
“On September 7 next year in Buenos Aires, if Istanbul is elected we will respectfully ask them not to host the European hampionships. Ultimately, it will be for the government 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.
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