Mehmet Büyükekşi: 'Turkey will earn more than 1 billion dollars'

Following the acceptance by UEFA of Turkey's joint bid with Italy to co-host EURO 2032, Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Büyükekşi made statements.

"WE ARE JOYFUL, WE ARE HAPPY"

Expressing his excitement, Mehmet Büyükekşi said, "We are very excited and proud. October 10, 2023, should be noted in history. We have crowned our 100th anniversary with the European Championship. We made a presentation to organize 2032 together with Italy. The UEFA Executive Committee approved it. This joyful news, which we have realized today after bidding 5 times before and failing to achieve it many times, is very important. We are happy to give this joyful news to our entire country."

"TURKEY HAS GREAT POTENTIAL"

Mehmet Büyükekşi stated, "This process was important, primarily with the support given by our President, our Ministers, and our Ministry of Youth and Sports, and with the nearly 40 stadiums, transportation, and modern facilities built by our state. There are documents given to UEFA with the signature of our President. These documents are being examined here. It is extremely important for the acceptance of the candidacy. You cannot be a candidate without them anyway. The will we put forward together with Italy is extremely important. Italy is the cradle of football on one hand, and we are two Mediterranean countries. Italy being a design country and Turkey being an industrial country, two strong countries came together. Two times two did not make four, it made eight, it made ten. We also talked about what we can do better when the two countries act together. We talked about the partnerships of the two countries in tourism, design, and industry. We have a foreign trade volume of over 26 billion dollars with Italy. This partnership will add strength to both countries. Turkey has great potential. When we use this potential correctly, it will create a great synergy between the two countries. Turkey has a young population. Football means friendship, brotherhood, and peace. We are trying to influence our youth in this direction."

WHERE WILL THE OPENING AND FINAL MATCH BE?

When asked in which countries the opening and final matches would be held, Büyükekşi said, "It is not clear where the opening match will be or where the final match will be. What we are talking about today is that the two countries can host this tournament together."

"OVER 1 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE"

Speaking about the stadiums and cities, Mehmet Büyükekşi said, "It is extremely important to host EURO 2032 on the 100th anniversary of our Republic and the TFF. It is the third most important organization in the world. The first is the World Cup, the second is the Olympics, and the third is the European Football Championship. More than 2 million people will come, 6 billion people will watch. It will bring over 1 billion dollars in revenue to our country. This is extremely important."

"WE WILL WORK LIKE ONE COUNTRY WITH ITALY"

In his speech at the presentation in Nyon, Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Büyükekşi stated that he offered his gratitude to the entire UEFA executive committee, especially UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, and said, "Having the honor of hosting the 2032 European Championship and being able to do this together with a friendly country like Italy, with whom we feel very close and share a common past and culture, is a great privilege for myself and my country. We have joined forces to organize the best European Championship in history and to build millions of new friendships across the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia, and Africa over the next 9 years, and to make exemplary contributions to the football legacy. From today until 2032, Italy and Turkey will work with passion not as two separate countries, but as one great football country."

"MAY IT BE BENEFICIAL AND AUSPICIOUS!"

In his assessment after UEFA announced that EURO 2032 would be held jointly by Italy and Turkey, Mehmet Büyükekşi said, "Today is an important day for Turkish football, Italian football, and European football. Our efforts to bring the European Football Championship to our country, which we have been pursuing for many years, have finally borne fruit. We will host the 2032 European Football Championship, which we previously thought we deserved to organize, together with Italy. May it be beneficial and auspicious for our country and Italy. We are experiencing the justified pride of hosting the European Football Championship, one of the world's largest sports organizations, for the first time in the history of the Republic. Turkey will also be the shining star of sports in the world. We have crowned the 100th anniversary of our Republic and our Turkish Football Federation with the European Football Championship. This pride belongs to all of us. May it be celebrated. Our country, which has been hosting many important international sports and cultural organizations for many years, has made a great breakthrough in football, especially in the last 20 years, with the great efforts of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our Sports Ministers, and all our state officials and institutions. Turkey is ready to host the European Football Championship in every sense with its modern stadiums, strong infrastructure, transportation network, and accommodation diversity. In addition to its physical facilities, Turkey will successfully host the 2032 European Football Championship with its unique nature, deep-rooted and rich history, and most importantly, the love and interest of the Turkish people for football. The fact that Italy and Turkey will jointly organize the championship shows that UEFA recognizes the capabilities of both countries in organizing major sports events."

"IT WILL BE AN UNFORGETTABLE TOURNAMENT!"

Emphasizing that co-organizing EURO 2032 with Italy will further strengthen the cooperation between the two Mediterranean countries that share a common past and culture, Büyükekşi said, "Hosting the 2032 European Football Championship will be an important milestone for both countries. Hosting EURO 2032 is not only a testament to the two countries' passion for the beautiful game, but also a testament to their strong commitment to promoting international cooperation. I believe that when Turkey's rich football history is combined with Italy's deep-rooted legacy in football, it will be an exciting and unforgettable tournament for fans across Europe and the world. This partnership will ensure the strengthening of existing relations and the deepening of cultural ties between Turkey and Italy. The fact that Europe's biggest football tournament will be organized with the partnership of Italy and Turkey will be an important opportunity for the multiculturalism that Europe represents to be embraced in football as well."

"ITS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTRY WILL BE GREAT"

Noting that hosting EURO 2032 will provide great economic and cultural gains in addition to the major sporting contributions it will make to Turkey, the TFF President said, "Organizing this major organization will open new doors in terms of showcasing our people's hospitality as well as our awe-inspiring magnificent natural beauties and history to the whole world. Football enthusiasts who will come to our country from all over the world for the tournament will also have the chance to discover the beauties of our country. The tournament will undoubtedly revitalize our tourism and attract new visitors from all over the world to our country. Hosting the European Football Championship also plays an important role in international relations for the host country. Such events offer opportunities for the promotion of the country, creating an impressive image in the international arena, and strengthening international relations. It also encourages friendship and cultural exchanges between athletes and fans from different countries throughout the tournament. Therefore, hosting the European Football Championship will also be a tool of public diplomacy for our country. While wishing that hosting EURO 2032 will once again be beneficial for our country, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to bringing this organization to our country."

News Source: 12punto