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[GBModerator]

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told the UEFA Congress Thursday that his country would like to stage the 2020 European Championship in Istanbul. However Istanbul

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[RobH]

Good article:

"Honestly, if Istanbul already has the Olympics before then, I won't vote for Turkey because it is impossible to have the Olympic Games and the Euros in the same month in the same city. That's my position".
- Platini

In all honesty, if Istanbul wins the Games, I'd surprised if Turkey even continues with its Euro bid. If Istanbul wins the Games, I very much suspect they'll withdraw their Euros bid (possibly on the advice of UEFA), so Platini won't even have the option to vote for them.

[SwissO]

Good article:

"Honestly, if Istanbul already has the Olympics before then, I won't vote for Turkey because it is impossible to have the Olympic Games and the Euros in the same month in the same city. That's my position".
- Platini

In all honesty, if Istanbul wins the Games, I'd surprised if Turkey even continues with its Euro bid. If Istanbul wins the Games, I very much suspect they'll withdraw their Euros bid (possibly on the advice of UEFA), so Platini won't even have the option to vote for them.

But if Istanbul is bidding for both at the same time, they will never win the Olympics.... It will be misinterpreted by the IOC... and so they will stay with the single opportunity to try to get the Euro 2020 ...

[RobH]

Do you really think so? I think that's certainly a danger but do you think it's a certainty that an Euro bid will scupper their Olympic hopes?

[munichfan]

Wouldn't it be the best for Turkey to withdraw the Olympic bid? Despite for the Olympics, they are favourites for the UEFA Euro. Furthermore, it's Turkey's 100th anniversary in 2020 and a UEFA Euro would be a celebration for the whole country and would not be concentrated on just one city.

[Athensfan]

Do you really think so? I think that's certainly a danger but do you think it's a certainty that an Euro bid will scupper their Olympic hopes?

Nothing is certain until it has already happened and even then there often seems to be a difference of opinion.

I do think Turkey's bid for Euro 2020 harms their Olympic bid. It looks like they are hedging their bets. That suggests a lack of confidence. (As does their decision to without their logo until they make the short list.) If Turkey insists they can host both, that conveys a lack of good judgement.

If they abandon the Olympic bid they will almost certainly get Euro 2020. If they abandon Euro 2020, their Olympic bid will be stronger, but it's already starting to feel like an uphill battle for them. If they bid for both, they will not win both. They could win Euro 2020, but I doubt they'd get the Games, in which case this Olympic bid will just be the latest installment in a long line of less than fully-committed warm-up bids for Games that seem to be perpetually beyond the horizon.

Turkey needs to commit. One or the other. Not both.

[Brekkie Boy]

I agree their best bet is Euro 2000 and the IOC won't look favourably on them bidding for another massive event the same year - the IOC don't like being cheated on!

[SwissO]

Do you really think so? I think that's certainly a danger but do you think it's a certainty that an Euro bid will scupper their Olympic hopes?

Yes I think so ! The Olympic Movement could be pretty jalous... If you are the bride, you could not be engaged with 2 different grooms... waiting one finally decides...

[emre]

Wouldn't it be the best for Turkey to withdraw the Olympic bid? Despite for the Olympics, they are favourites for the UEFA Euro. Furthermore, it's Turkey's 100th anniversary in 2020 and a UEFA Euro would be a celebration for the whole country and would not be concentrated on just one city.

nope its 2023 .. better 2024 euro champ here cause it will be still turkeys 100t year in smmer time.

[munichfan]

Well, it's still sometimes in the 20's , but I don't see any chance to continue both bids. Turkey, you have to decide!