Istanbul to Host 2027 European Games

Istanbul will host the 2027 European Games, giving the Turkish capital a chance to show it can stage an international multi-sports event as it eyes the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

EOC President Spyros Capralos said in a statement that “the EOC is delighted to have approved Istanbul’s candidature to host the European Games 2027. It is a great news for both Europe’s athletes and the city.” The EOC release said no new venues need be built specifically for the European Games. The Executive Committee’s decision will be presented to the EOC General Assembly in Bucharest in June for final approval.

The European Games were first held in 2015 and serves as a continental championship and Olympic qualifier for a number of sports. The previous three European Games have been 2015 in Baku, Azerbaijan; 2109 in Minsk, Belarus, and 2023 in Kraków-Małopolska, Poland, where 50 nations whose National Olympic Committee is recognized by the European Olympic Committee compete with nearly 7,000 athletes competing in 29 sports, including athletics, boxing and table tennis.

Turkey will co-host soccer’s 2032 European Championship with Italy. Istanbul city officials have said it wants to bid for the 2036 Olympics, having finished second to Tokyo in the then-bid contest to host the 2020 Games.  India is also planning to bid for the 2036 Games.