Servet Yardimci believes Turkey's status as an untapped resource will be attractive to UEFA.GETTY IMAGES
Turkey deserves to host Euro 2024 because it represents a "new frontier" that will bring "great economic gains," Turkish Football Federation VP Servet Yardimci said, "brushing aside concerns over the country's human rights record," according to Richard Martin of REUTERS. UEFA will make its final decision on the venue for Euro 2024 when its exec committee meets on Thursday. Germany is the only other country bidding to host the tournament. Turkey's previous attempts to host Euro 2016 and the 2020 Summer Olympics failed, while Germany won the rights to host the 2006 World Cup, "which was was widely hailed as a success." However, Yardimci, "who is spearheading the Turkish bid, believes Turkey's attraction as a venue lies precisely in its status as an untapped resource for UEFA." He said, "Germany has a proven track record in hosting events but Turkey is a new market. It is ... a completely new frontier because they (UEFA) will attract more supporters, more sponsorship, more excitement. It will bring an added value to the revenue UEFA is looking for." One issue that "could count against Turkey's bid is its record on human rights." UEFA lists "a country's rights record as a factor in determining its bid, and Ankara has come under increased scrutiny since a failed coup attempt" against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in '16. Yardimci "brushed aside the concerns about politics." He said, "We cannot change this negative perception Turkey has outside of Turkey, but politically Turkey is very stable, very consistent" (REUTERS, 9/24).
