At the EOC Assembly, it has been officially announced that Istanbul will host the 2027 European Games. The decision was made by the EOC.
In Bucharest, the European Olympic Committee (EOC) convened its most important decision-making body, where it officially designated Istanbul as the host city for the 2027 European Games. The EOC also initiated discussions for potential locations for the 2031 games and solidified Brasov as the host of the Winter EYOF and Lignano Sabbiadoro as the host of the Summer EYOF in 2027.
During the 53rd General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in Bucharest, Romania, EOC President Spyros Capralos expressed his joy at receiving the backing of the entire European Olympic community for hosting the upcoming European Games in Istanbul.
After giving a presentation to the most important decision-making body, it was officially announced that Istanbul, as promised in the previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed three weeks ago by EOC President Spyros Capralos, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Turkish Olympic Committee Vice-President Kazım li Kiremitcioglu, will be the host city for the 2027 European Games.
The host city, primarily situated in Asia but with a portion in Europe, was able to establish a foundation for itself after the assembly officially approved the agreement that was initially reached in the middle of May.
Authorities in Turkey have a strategy in place to host the Games in a similar fashion to the one adopted by Krakow and Małopolska in Poland for the 2023 iteration, as reported by Inside the Games. The aim is to utilise already established venues in order to keep costs down and promote sustainability. Given the limited timeframe of three years to get ready, this approach is even more crucial for Istanbul.
The 2023 Games have been highly successful, resulting in a financial legacy of €3 million ($3.2 million) that will benefit athletes through an investment in European National Olympic Committees. According to a recent Deloitte study, the fourth edition of the Games in Krakow-Małopolska was the most cost-effective, surpassing the previous editions held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2015 and Minsk, Belarus in 2019. This was also confirmed by a report by Inside the Games.
According to Capralos, the Greek leader of the EOC, we are pleased to have the backing of the entire European Olympic community in hosting the upcoming European Games in Istanbul.
The EOC has chosen the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Turkish NOC as ideal collaborators to bring forth a European Games that will enchant not only the host city and country, but also Europe and the rest of the world.
İmamoglu commented on X, stating that they had presented their plans and readiness for the 2027 European Games in Istanbul at the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committee. They were delighted to see the delegates of the Olympic Committee showing great interest and giving their approval to their presentation on behalf of Istanbul.
The Mayor of the Turkish metropolis, which boasts a population of 15 million (equivalent to the combined populations of London, Paris, Madrid, and Berlin), expressed our shared belief that Istanbul, situated at the junction of the East and West, epitomizes the Olympic spirit and brings cultures together through sports. This statement was made in reference to the economic potential of Istanbul for hosting the Euro Games.
Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, has declared Turkey’s ambition to compete for hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. The upcoming European Games will act as a springboard towards achieving this objective, following in the footsteps of several nations such as Chile, Qatar, Indonesia, Poland, and India, who have also expressed a renewed enthusiasm for this prestigious sporting event.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials have stated that they have no specific timeline for selecting the next Olympic host. However, they have confirmed that the earliest they will make a decision is in “2026 or 2027”. Currently, there are more than ten interested candidates in the running.
In his statement on X, he mentioned that he had a conversation with IOC President Thomas Bach about Istanbul’s proposal for hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He emphasised that Istanbul, known as one of the most stunning cities globally, is fully prepared to embody the Olympic values in 2036.
Moreover, President Capralos placed emphasis on enhancing the EOC’s alignment with the Strategic Agenda 2030 after the selection of Dr. Jan Lehmann and the continuous efforts of the EOC Office in the EU and the EOC Commissions and their leaders.
The Order of Merit was awarded to EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi on the first day of the General Assembly, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the world of sports.
The ninth instalment of the Piotr Nurowski Winter Award, which recognises the top young European athlete aged 14 to 18, was also subject to voting.
Prior to the announcement of the first recipients, the Janez Kocjancic award, which recognises the most outstanding male and female competitors at the European Games, was bestowed.
Furthermore, apart from the addresses delivered by President Capralos and President Bach, the General Assembly was also presented with a variety of comprehensive presentations. The EOC Treasurer and Executive Director, the Association of National Olympic Committees, and the International Olympic Committee gave their reports during the session. The Organising Committees for Paris 2024 and Milan-Cortina 2026 also shared their updates, offering a detailed account of the progress made in the preparations for these upcoming events.
Moreover, all of the Commissions within the EOC were given the chance to showcase their advancements and initiatives, encompassing a diverse range of subjects that are essential to the success of the Olympic Movement.
There were additional sessions dedicated to the topic of incorporating artificial intelligence in sports, delving into the potential for new technologies to enhance athletic performance and event planning. The emphasis was placed on the significance of innovation within the realm of sports.
During the final session of the General Assembly, there was an intriguing discussion about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the world of sports. The European Olympic Committee (EOC) shared their thoughts on the potential positive and negative effects of AI in sports.
