During a celebration of the 2027 European Games at Istanbul House in Paris, European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos hailed the Turkish Olympic Committee (TOC) for an inspiring showcase of sport.
Organised in collaboration with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the House highlights Turkish sport, arts and culture, and provides an important opportunity to promote Istanbul’s spectacular plans for the 4th European Games in 2027.
Türkiye’s largest city will build on the success of the 3rd European Games in Poland, which was the most cost-efficient edition to date and offered more than 100 direct qualification or National Olympic Committee quota places for the Olympic Games.
Istanbul 2027 is set to provide qualifying opportunities for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, feature an innovative sports programme and requires no new permanent venues.
President Capralos spoke at a reception held on 7 August, which was hosted by TOC President Prof. Dr. Uğur Erdener and the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu, and was attended by distinguished guests, including IOC Executive Board Member Nenad Lalovic, EOC Executive Committee Members and Turkish Olympians.
President Capralos said: “It is an honour to be invited to Istanbul House by the TOC during the Olympic Games. We are confident that the TOC and Istanbul will deliver a spectacular European Games, as Paris has done for the Olympic Games.
“The sustainable model that the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and TOC have in place will build on the success of Kraków-Małopolska 2023 and we are fortunate to have found such reliable partners with great experience staging major events.
“We already have many federations asking to be included, something that proves the success of the European Games and its increasing importance in the sporting calendar.
“The EOC looks forward to continuing our excellent cooperation to deliver a European Games which captivates the continent in 2027.”
Underlining the support in Türkiye behind the project to deliver the 2027 European Games, President Prof. Dr. Erdener and Mayor İmamoğlu stressed the opportunities provided by staging Europe’s premier multi-sport event.
Prof. Dr. Erdener said: “Our guests, the fourth edition of the European Games in Istanbul in 2027 will give you the opportunity to get to know Istanbul better and explore the opportunities it offers.
“You will experience first-hand Istanbul’s developed, and continually developing, sports and other infrastructures, and the sports enthusiasm of its residents. Together with our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the Turkish Olympic Committee will continue to build bridges of friendship and unite diverse cultures, in line with the universal values of sports.”
Mayor İmamoğlu added: “Hosting the European Games in Istanbul in 2027 will be a powerful symbol of unity, proving to the whole world that, despite our differences, we can unite through the spirit of friendly competition. Istanbul seeks to leverage the European Games as a means to inspire and engage young people, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. Istanbul is a living testament to the enduring power of culture, history, and human achievement. We will make sure that the Games will leave a positive legacy and impact on the city and all of its people, and be remembered by all those who participate and witness this extraordinary event.”