Calls for Euro 2024 bid following Games success

THE SUCCESS of the Commonwealth Games has led to calls that it should the catalyst for Scotland to bid for more global sporting events - starting with the Euro 2024 football championships.

Ruth Davidson said that Glasgow 2014 has been sensationaland wants to build on that success to land other major sports tournaments. Picture: TSPL

Former First Minister Henry McLeish and Conservative leader Ruth Davidson say the Glasgow games have shown the city is capable of staging major sporting extravaganzas and Scotland must do all it can to build on this. Mr McLeish is now calling for a new Government unit to be established which is “constantly looking” at major tournaments and events which could be attracted to Scotland.

“The Commonwealth Games have shown that we have the capacity, the enterprise and the inspiration to hold one of the major sporting events in the world,” Mr McLeish told The Scotsman.

“Let’s use that and the momentum behind that to look at other international events that we could host.”

The World Cup and Olympic Games are the only two events which are likely to be outwith the capacity of a small country like Scotland to stage, according to the ex-First Minister.

But the former Labour MSP added: “Let’s be big enough to look at every other event in terms of football, in terms of rugby, both male and female, so that we can use the superb atmosphere and warm approach of the Scots to actually engage the world.

“These are issues should transcend political allegiances and it’s one of the best ways of showing the best side of a nation.”

The Ryder Cup will be staged at Gleneagles later this year and along with the Glasgow games should be a springboard for Scotland to establish itself as a major sporting host nation, he insisted.

Mr McLeish added: “I would like to see a permanent set-up in Scotland with either visitscotland or the Scottish Government that is constantly looking at how we can bid, how we can win, and make sure Scotland’s facilities are amongst the best in the world.

“Let’s have a permanent capacity at the centre of what we do in Scotland so that we can win these international events.”

Glasgow is already bidding to be one of the host cities in the 2020 European Championships, but faces competition from more than 30 rivals. But the Tories have set out proposals which could allow the 24-team tournament to be staged in Scotland four years later.

This includes focussing the contest on Celtic Park, Hampden, Ibrox - all in Glasgow - and Edinburgh’s Murrayfield while upgrading – permanently or temporarily – stadia in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Kilmarnock.

Meanwhile, Ms Davidson said: “If the format reverts to the usual process in 2024, we know from the last 10 days or so that Scotland is more than capable of being a superb host.

“Scotland’s fans are the best in the world, a fact acknowledged globally, and are deserving of an event like this on their doorstep.

“We’ve already got four world-class grounds in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with the opportunity of expanding several more across the country – not uncommon for a major footballing tournament.”

Ms Davidson added: “Glasgow 2014 has been sensational - let’s build on our success to land other major sports tournaments and show the world what Scotland can do.”

Matches could also be staged across the border in the North of England with Newcastle and Sunderland staging matches, Ms Davidson added.

Scotland lost out in a joint-bid with Ireland to stage the 2008 European Championships, losing out to Austria and Switzerland.

At the time, Sir Rodney Walker, Chairman of UK Sport - the organisation responsible for co-ordinating the staging of major events in the UK - said that although the bid was lost, it was important the UK learned from this experience and continued to give itself the best possible chance of “staging the world’s largest sports events on home soil”.

The next Euros will take place in France in two years time. In 2020, Uefa has decided that it would mark 60 years of the European Championships by hosting the finals across the continent in multiple cities. Thirteen European cities will host matches.

However, no announcement has been made for 2024, with Uefa expected to make a decision in and around 2017, meaning there is plenty of time to put a bid together.

Mr McLeish was First Minister in 2000 during part of the the ill-fated bidding process for the 2008 championship.

“I was trying to lead from the front because the SFA were reluctant and a lot of people were reluctant and its part of the Scottish problem - lacking in confidence,” he added.

“But we have to remember if you bid for something, you never get it first time, you never get it second time. It’s actually a persistence that shows those big organisations that you’ve got the spirit to keep going until you get it.”

Hosting such a major global event can also be expected to bring significant investment in transport and infrastructure, while the tournament would provide a major economic boost.

And Ms Davidson added: “It wouldn’t just boost football in Scotland, it would bring thousands of visitors to our shores, millions to the economy and could leave a lasting infrastructure legacy too.”