EOC Launches 2023 European Games Bid Process

(ATR) The European Olympic Committees is adopting a fast-track process to decide the host of the 2023 European Games.

Beginning with a dialogue phase, under efforts to replicate the IOC Olympic bidding model, the EOC is inviting "any city or cities interested in hosting Europe’s premier multisport event" to enter into a discussion with their NOCs and EOC "to learn more about the concept and vision of the Games and to examine all key opportunities".

The EOC executive committee, meeting in Stockholm on Thursday, approved the bidding process.

But no firm dates have been published detailing when the dialogue phase ends and candidature stage begins.The EOC only said that thedeadline for submission of bid documents is Feb. 28, 2019.

This timetable gives potential host cities and European governments precious little time to pull together the necessary political and financial guarantees and resources to deliver comprehensive bid dossiers.

Around the Rings is told that the EOC is prepared to be "as flexible as possible", providing there is a reasonable amount of time for a city to submit a proper bid by February.

An EOC evaluation committee will examine all bids submitted, with the ultimate decision subject to a vote of the 50 member nations at the European Olympic body's general assembly.

The EOC said it plans to announce the 2023 European Games host ahead of the Minsk 2019 event next June "so that the new host city can attend, and learn from, the second edition of the Games".

"We have already received interest from all over Europe but now that the official procedure is underway, we would like to speak in greater detail with interested parties to explore how the European Games could most benefit their cities and citizens," said EOC president Janez Kocijančič.

"We are confident that in terms of value for money and outlay required, the European Games represent an excellent opportunity."

In a release, the EOC said it aims to deliver a European Games that "embodies integrity, excellence, solidarity and innovation".

"We believe in cost-efficient, sustainable Games at the level of quality second only to the Olympic Games," said Kocijančič.

"In Minsk, for example, only one of the 12 venues being used to host the Games had to be built from scratch. We work closely with the hosts from the very beginning to ensure that the cities and countries come away from the Games with as many positive, long-lasting legacies as possible."

Reported by Mark Bisson

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