The European Olympic Committee (EOC) has officially announced that Istanbul will be the host city for the 2027 European Games. This confirmation came during the EOC’s 53rd General Assembly, held in Bucharest, Romania. Additionally, the assembly confirmed the host cities for the Winter and Summer European Youth Olympic Festivals (EYOF) in 2027, which will take place in Brasov, Romania, and Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, respectively.
Istanbul 🇹🇷 confirmed host of 2027 European Games as EOC looks ahead to potential 2031 sites @The_EOC @ekrem_imamoglu @imamoglu_int #Istanbul2027 #EuropeanGames https://t.co/zURS6W8Z8t
— GamesBids.com (@gamesbids) June 7, 2024
“We are delighted to have received the support of the entire European Olympic family to host the next European Games in Istanbul,” expressed EOC President Spyros Capralos. The decision followed a comprehensive presentation by Istanbul representatives and solidified the commitment made in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year by EOC President Spyros Capralos, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and Turkish Olympic Committee Vice-President Kazım Kiremitcioğlu.
The 2027 European Games will follow a model similar to the one employed by Krakow and Małopolska for the 2023 edition, leveraging existing venues to ensure a cost-effective and sustainable event. This approach is especially crucial given the tight preparation timeline of just three years. The success of the 2023 Games, which resulted in a financial surplus, has set a precedent for this strategy. A Deloitte study recently highlighted that the Krakow-Małopolska Games were the most cost-effective edition to date, surpassing the previous events held in Baku, Azerbaijan (2015), and Minsk, Belarus (2019).
Capralos emphasized the strategic partnership with Istanbul, stating, “With the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the Turkish NOC, the EOC has found the perfect partners to deliver a European Games that will captivate the host city, the host country, Europe, and indeed the world.”
Mayor İmamoğlu shared his enthusiasm on social media, noting, “This morning we presented our strategy and preparations for the Istanbul 2027 European Games at the European Olympic Committee General Assembly. We were very happy on behalf of Istanbul that the delegates of the Olympic Committee followed us with enthusiasm and approved our presentation.” He further added that Istanbul, situated at the crossroads of East and West, embodies the Olympic spirit and unites cultures through sport.
Thrilled to announce that Istanbul's Host City status for the 2027 European Games has been approved by the EOC General Assembly! 🌟
— Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) June 7, 2024
In Bucharest, at the 53rd General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees, we proudly presented Istanbul's vision for the Games. I shared our… pic.twitter.com/lF7x80MXOJ
In a significant move towards future ambitions, İmamoğlu also announced Turkey’s intention to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has indicated that the selection process for the 2036 host will commence around 2026 or 2027, with numerous countries expected to submit bids.
During the General Assembly, the EOC also confirmed Brasov, Romania, as the host of the Winter EYOF and Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, as the host of the Summer EYOF in 2027. EOC President Capralos highlighted the organization’s alignment with the Strategic Agenda 2030, mentioning the appointment of Dr. Jan Lehmann and the active role of the EOC Office in the EU and its various commissions.
The opening day of the General Assembly saw EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi honoured with the Order of Merit for his outstanding contributions to sport. Additionally, the assembly hosted the ninth edition of the Piotr Nurowski Winter Award, celebrating the best young European athlete aged 14 to 18, and the presentation of the Janez Kocijančič trophy to the best male and female athletes at the European Games.
The assembly also included updates from the Paris 2024 and Milan-Cortina 2026 Organising Committees, detailing their ongoing preparations. Special sessions focused on the application of artificial intelligence in sports, highlighting its potential to enhance sports performance and event management, underscoring the importance of innovation in the athletic domain.
