Istanbul awarded to host 2027 European Games

The European Olympic Committees Executive Committee announced that it unanimously awarded the 4th edition of the European Games, in 2027, to Istanbul.

Wednesday March 27 2024 02:26 pm

Istanbul Mayor İmamoğlu, National Olympic Committee members, and champion athletes announce the games under a banner that reads, "2027 European Games will be in Istanbul"

Reuters & Duvar English

Istanbul has been unanimously chosen as the host for the fourth European Games in 2027, the European Olympic Committees (EOC) said on March 27.

The multi-sport event, first staged in 2015, was the fifth continental Games to be established after the Asian Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Games and African Games.

"Istanbul and Turkey have long been good friends of international sport," EOC president Spyros Capralos said in a statement. "We know it will be the perfect place for Europe's best athletes to shine in 2027."

Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, also announced news by organizing a press conference at the Mayor's Office.

Neşe Gündoğan, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey, Ali Kiremitçioğlu, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey, European and World Champion Olympic Karate player Serap Özçelik Arapoğlu, and European and World Champion Olympic Taekwondo player Nafia Kuş Aydın also attended the meeting.

Istanbul will not build any new venues for the Games, relying on existing infrastructure.

The executive committee's decision will be presented to the EOC's general assembly in June for final approval.

Staging the European Games in 2027 is part of Turkey's bid to win hosting rights for the Olympics and Paralympics in 2036, the country's National Paralympic Committee president Murat Aksu said last year.