Turkey is ready for Euro 2024: Football Federation

ISTANBUL

As a candidate country to host the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, Turkey has completed all the necessary investments into new stadiums, transportation, hotels and infrastructure, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has said.

“We are ready. The Republic of Turkey has mobilized huge resources for globally distinctive infrastructure projects and stadia investments in accordance with ‘Vision 2023’ to commemorate its centenary,” TFF chair Yıldırım Demirören wrote in the UEFA EURO 2024 Bid Brochure, which was submitted to the UEFA on April 26.

“We have supplied all the guarantees and more to maximize the UEFA’s revenues … This world-class event not only has the full support of all necessary governmental institutions, but also the backing of the Turkish people,” he added.

Barış Telli, Turkey’s candidacy ambassador and a member of the European champion Amputee National Football Team, also underlined the country’s eagerness to host the tournament.

“In addition to the federation and our government, the entire population in 81 cities shares our belief that it is Turkey’s time now. I have no doubt that the valuable stakeholders of the European football family will be impressed with our firm belief, enthusiasm, and eagerness to host this tournament,” he said.

3 billion euros spent

Turkey has spent more than 3 billion euros to build new stadiums, including 10 very modern ones in nine cities, according to the brochure.

“The Republic of Turkey, through the Sports Ministry, has built 37 state-of-the-art stadiums across the country and established football areas in cities and rural areas investing more than 3 billion euros,” it read.

Moreover, Turkey’s location will provide access to markets in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa to attract investment into football more effectively than any other European country, it was pointed out.

Turkey’s ongoing investments into transportation infrastructure were also highlighted in the bid brochure.

The new airport in Istanbul will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase in 2018. This figure will rise to 200 million annually after its completion.

Nine host cities—Istanbul, Ankara, Bursa, Kocaeli, Eskişehir, Konya, Antalya, Gaziantep and Trabzon—will be connected through high-speed trains by 2023 at the latest when the country will achieve a total capacity of 1 billion passengers annually owing to an investment worth 24 billion euros, according to the brochure.

“We are the only member country in the top 10 European economic powers and top 10 European football markets that still has not hosted a EURO tournament. This is Turkey’s fourth consecutive bid. We are determined that this year will be our year, and we are committed to hosting the best tournament ever,” it read.