This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Swedish Congress for Euro 2008
25/04/2002
Scotland and Ireland presented their joint bid to host
the 2008 European Football Championships at the UEFA
Congress for all seven bidders in Stockholm today.
First Minister Jack McConnell, in the comparny of Sports
Minister Mike Watson and Irish Sports MInister
Jim McDaid, met UEFA president Lennart Johansson and UEFA
technical director Sett Blatter, president of FIFA, to
promote the bid.
Afterwards Mr McConnell said: "This has been a very
successful morning for the Scottish and Irish bid. We have
taken the opportunity to get across to key UEFA delegates
the message that we are two footballing nations who can
deliver the best ever European football championships and
that the bid has full support of the Scottish and Irish
governments. What is already clear is that we are seen as
serious players with the biggest and best stadia and the
reputation of the Scottish and Irish fans and the strong
backing of the UK government are huge plus points for our
bid."
Prime Minister Tony Blair had also sent a supporting
letter backing the two countries:
"I understand that you will be in Stockholm at the UEFA
congress promoting the Scottish/Irish bid for Euro 2008. I
know how passionate the Scots and Irish are about football.
The UEFA European Championship is one of the greatest
sporting events in Europe and I am wholeheartedly behind
your efforts and those of Bertie Ahern to secure the
tournament in 2008. I am certain not only that it would be
an expertly run and professional event but that football
would receive the warmest possible welcome if the
championships come to Scotland and Ireland. I am therefore
delighted to lend my personal support to the Scottish and
Irish bid for Euro 2008."
Detailed bids, including the location of stadiums, now
have to be completed by May 31 this year, and the final
decision on who is to be the host will be announced in
December.
Other candidates to host the championship are Bosnia and
Croatia (joint bid), Greece and Turkey (joint bid), a
four-way bid from Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway and a
solo bid by Hungary.