(ATR) Krakow and the province in southeastern Poland will host the third edition of the European Games.
Around the Rings has learned that Krakow was the only bidder for the multisport event. The city delivered its bid dossier by the European Olympic Committee’s May 31 deadline.
Kazan in Russia was thought to be in the running to host the Games. But a bid dossier failed to materialize following the EOC’s discussions with the Russian NOC and Kazan officials.
"The European Olympic Committees is pleased to confirm that one application has been received from the NOC of Poland as a joint bid from the city of Krakow and the Malopolska Region," the EOC told ATR in a statement.
"The official election of the European Games 2023 host will take place at an extraordinary EOC General Assembly in Minsk on 22 June."
In May, Krakow replaced Katowice as Poland’s candidate city for the 2023 European Games. The Polish NOC had eventually favored Krakow over the city in southern Poland, despite initial meetings involving Katowice officials and EOC representatives in recent months.
The EOC appeared happier with the choice of Krakow, which was backed by strong regional and city governmental support and the necessary financial guarantees, following meetings with Polish NOC leaders in May.
The choice of Krakow as the host of the European Games after the second edition in Minsk later this month comes after the EOC’s fast-track bidding process launched last September.
Krakow’s bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics may have been torpedoed in the early stages by a failed referendum, but its work on the project is likely to be valuable in delivering the 2023 European Games.
The Polish Olympic quest collapsed in May 2014. At the time, the bid said that 67.7 percent (143,796) had rejected the Olympics, answering "No" to the question: Are you in favor of Krakow hosting the 2022 Olympic Winter Games?Only 30.3 percent of residents who voted (62,453) backed the bid.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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