Euro 2016 is the one that got away in UK's golden decade

THE Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Rugby World Cup and the Cricket World Cup will all be held in the UK over the next few years in what has been called the golden decade of British sport.

Other events may follow, among them the football World Cup of 2018, for which England is bidding. And Scotland will play its part, notably in 2014, when the Commonwealth Games come to Glasgow and the Ryder Cup is held at Gleneagles.

But one major tournament is certain to come nowhere close to these shores. The host country of football's European Championships of 2016 will be announced today, with France, Italy and Turkey the only bidders.

A Scottish bid was hardly even considered casually by our footballing powers that be, despite the fact that it is now generally recognised that first bids tend to be dry runs, and that would-be hosts invariably require two or three attempts before becoming successful. Was our own unsuccessful pitch for Euro 2008, made jointly with Ireland, so badly received that we have been discouraged from ever trying again? Or could the will be there to make a fresh attempt for 2020?

In theory at least, the Scottish Football Association remains as enthusiastic today about attracting major events to this country as it was when Hampden successfully hosted the Champions League final in 2002, and the Uefa Cup final five years later. In practice, however, the SFA appears very reluctant to get involved in any bid, especially in the light of current economic circumstances.

"The Scottish FA currently has no plans to bid to host Euro 2020 either independently or as part of a joint proposal," a spokesman for the governing body said yesterday. "While it would be a wonderful experience to host a major football championships in this country, there are many other factors that need to be seriously considered first.

"Many lessons have been learned since the unsuccessful bid to host Euro 2008. Ultimately, it will be a decision for the new chief executive and the Scottish FA board, but the current financial climate means it is unlikely we will enter the bidding to host Euro 2020."

The appointment of that new chief executive, to replace Gordon Smith, will probably be no more than a month or two away, and if the successful candidate is enthusiastic about bidding for Euro 2020 that somewhat negative stance by the SFA may change. Such a major project would surely be discussed at interview by any serious proponent of it, and the appointment of someone with such views would be an indication the board has been won over.

The SFA's caution is understandable, both because of the aforementioned economic position, and because the bid to host Euro 2008 highlighted some of the obstacles in our way. But there are two obvious reasons why the governing body should not simply issue a blanket refusal even to consider a bid.

First, the "financial climate" cited by the spokesperson is not peculiar to Scotland. Nor is it merely shared by ourselves and our two most plausible co-hosts, Ireland and Wales. It is a global problem.

And yet, despite all this, the world of sport continues to revolve. Preparation for the London Olympics and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games continues, albeit in the former case with a slightly reduced budget

. This October, the Commonwealth Games will be held in Delhi, despite the fact India has as severe a problem with poverty as can be found almost anywhere on the planet.

Secondly, it should be noted that one of the major costs of running a multi-venue event, stadium construction, has already been met in these islands.

Scotland has four stadiums – Hampden, Murrayfield, Ibrox and Celtic Park – with a capacity in excess of 50,000. Pittodrie can seat more than 22,000, Easter Road will rise above 20,000 when the new East Stand is complete, and the proposed redevelopment at Tynecastle would put the Hearts stadium up to around the same number.

But presuming Ireland or Wales – or even both – came on board, not all of those seven grounds would be needed.

In Ireland, Croke Park seats more than 82,000, and the new Aviva Stadium at Lansdowne Road will accommodate more than 50,000. In Cardiff, the Millennium Stadium holds 74,500 and Cardiff City Stadium has a capacity of close to 27,000. Liberty Stadium in Swansea can seat 20,500.

The facilities are there. Only the will seems to be lacking.