The presentations from the 7 bidders are going on right now with the final decision on who will host EURO2008 to be announced tomorrow (Thursday). All eyes will be focussed on Intercontinental Hotel where UEFA President Lennart Johansson will announce the name of the successful bid. The announcement, which is expected late on Thursday morning, follows months if not years of preparations by the bidding counties, with UEFA's supreme executive body, the Executive Committee, making the final verdict.
UEFA Chief Executive Gerhard Aigner said that he had been very impressed by the quality of the bids saying: "The member associations have become very professional in presenting bids, and governments have understood the importance of big sporting events for the image of their country and for the economy, so we have a much higher impact compared to 15 or 20 years ago". Ainger went on: "The bidders are under more pressure to win, and we will have some disappointed parties. This is a shame - but this is not going to be the last European Championship. The ones who do not win now could win it next time." | |||||
Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net) |