AMBITIOUS INTENT

Azerbaijan and Georgia are among applicants for hosting the European Football Championship in 2020. In order to implement the intention, the president of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), Rovnaq Abdullayyev, has met with the president of the Georgian Football Federation, Zviad Sichinava, in Batumi to discuss issues related to co-hosting the continental championship. It was decided to establish a working group and approve the list of cities where the championships can be held.

The AFFA president believes that Azerbaijan and Georgia desire to co-host the European Championships 2020 is quite feasible. He said, "This is a serious project. We believe that will achieve our goal. In this we rely on the support of the leaders of our countries. The relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are at the highest level. This is what we proceeded from in expressing the willingness to take charge of the joint organization of the tournament. By entrusting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup to Azerbaijan, FIFA showed great confidence in Azerbaijan. By conducting the championship at the highest level, we will give FIFA and UEFA the confidence that we have the capacity to organize the European Championship. We must convince these organizations that even such small countries like ours are capable of conducting such prestigious tournaments."

The president of the Georgian Football Federation, Zviad Sichinava, is also quite optimistic. "We must have the confidence that we can win the right to host the Euro-2020. We will set up an organizing committee in the next few days. We will have meetings in Baku. There, we will announce which cities will be involved in hosting the continental championship. As for the prospects, after Germany and the Netherlands have withdrawn their candidacies our chances are quite realistic. So far we have not discussed the venue of the opening and final matches."

UEFA is to approve the list of candidate countries to host Euro-2020 by 30 June. Along with the tandem of Azerbaijan-Georgia, applicants include Turkey and the trio of Scotland-Ireland-Wales. It must be acknowledged that Turkey has the best chance. If the brotherly country abandons its claim to host the 2020 Olympics, UEFA may entrust Euro-2020 to Turkey.

The organizing committee of the two South Caucasus countries is to provide information to UEFA about the urban infrastructure, airports and other important issues in the shortest time. It is estimated that Euro-2020 will cost Azerbaijan and Georgia 100 million Euros. But in addition to finances, countries must also comply with a number of other requirements.

Although the level of football development in Azerbaijan and Georgia is not very high, both countries have managed to earn sympathy from UEFA. Experience shows that the European Football Union awards the organization of continental championships to countries that may not have very developed football but have demonstrated a high level of cooperation and openness to the world. In this respect, Azerbaijan and Georgia can live up to the expectations. Besides, Azerbaijan has already established itself worldwide as a successful sporting nation and organizer of the most prestigious international competitions. In September, Azerbaijan will play host to the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup to Azerbaijan, while in 2016 the European Championship for juniors will be held in Azerbaijan. That in itself attests to the growing confidence in Azerbaijan in the organization of prestigious football tournaments.

Another important issue is related to the turf of the stadiums. UEFA President Michel Platini who visited Poland on the eve of Euro-2012 did not like the grass in one of the stadiums and organizers quickly replaced it. In other words, UEFA requirements must be strictly followed. The capacity of stadiums and the urban infrastructure in places of their location are extremely important. This includes airports, hotels, a convenient transportation network, etc. We note that the transport and tourism infrastructure of Baku was brought into compliance with the latest requirements in the run-up to the Eurovision song contest. Existing stadiums are being reconstructed and new ones built. But Euro-2020 is a large-scale event. The fans and visitors coming to the country will stay here for a month, not for one week as was the case with Eurovision. As for hotels, quite important are prices because football fans, particularly from Europe, stay at hotels with reasonable, preferably cheap prices.

The last issue is related to the low level of football in Azerbaijan and Georgia. As is known, if Euro-2020 was to be awarded to Azerbaijan and Georgia, the national teams of these countries will automatically qualify for the championship. It is therefore necessary to accelerate the work on improving the national teams. Particularly important are victories of the current junior and youth teams. After all, they will have to defend the honor of the national team in 2020.

Interestingly, European championships have been awarded to a tandem of countries only three times so far. In 2000, the championship was held Belgium and the Netherlands, in 2008 in Austria and Switzerland and this year in Ukraine and Poland. Of the said countries only the Netherlands have achieved significant successes in the sport. Others are average teams. So it is necessary to reach at least the average level.

To host the Euro-2020, Azerbaijan and Georgia must have eight stadiums with a capacity of 35,000-55,000 seats. As for cities, Azerbaijan can nominate four to five cities where matches can be played. It is up to UEFA to decide. The most important condition is the presence not only of the stadiums, but also hotels, airports, public transportation and other tourist facilities in the cities.

One way or another, Azerbaijan is prepared to take on yet another major sporting event and this time in partnership with neighboring Georgia. Time will tell whether UEFA will entrust the continental championship to the two South Caucasus countries in 2020 but the very fact that Azerbaijan and Georgia have come out with such ambitions speaks volumes.