Euro 2016 bidders await Friday vote

France, Italy and Turkey will hear this Friday if they have won the right to host the Euro football championships in 2016. Reuters has described the different tactics each country has endorsed in their pitch to UEFA.

France has promised a 1.7 billion euros investment in building and renovating stadiums, and an army of volunteers from the country’s professional football clubs. However it is thought to be the underdog in the race for Euro 2016.

"We know we have our chances and have a strong bid but we remain very humble," said French Football Federation (FFF) communications director Pierre-Jean Golven.

The Italian federation has taken a low-key approach, concentrating on behind-the-scenes lobbying to get support from other European federations. The country was bitterly disappointed when Poland and the Ukraine were chosen over it to host Euro 2012. Paolo Maldini will be in Geneva on Friday for the vote in a final effort to woo support of the Euro federations.

Italy has also pushed through parliament a law to crack down on football violence, after several high profile incidents in recent years.

"France and Turkey have had examples of violence this season linked to football, indeed with a death in France and one in Turkey," said Italian bid director Michele Uva.

"Our bid is strong as it is about infrastructure and the great welcome of the Italian people which would make Euro 2016 unforgettable."

Turkey is playing up its fast-growing economy, young population and its location in the East and Muslim identity, the latter playing on UEFA’s desire to integrate cultures through football.

Its Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, a football player in his youth, has promised nearly 1 billion euros of funding, and the bid directors have said there would be major investment in new facilities.

"The growing economy is very important because you need some energy. You need some energy for Europe, for European football," said the Euro 2016 bid manager Orhan Gorbon.

Source: sportbusiness.com