European Games proposal

Patrick Hickey International Olympic Committee member and EOC President is putting forward proposals for a European Games.

Hickey hoping to set up an event that would incorporate all the main Olympic sports.

The plans are currently undergoing a feasibility study by Deloitte.

We have a feeling that a European Games can be used to spark European supremacy again at the Olympic Games

Hickey revealed that he has the support of 47 of the 49 European National Olympic Committees which will make the final decision. He described initial interest from sponsors as “colossal”.

Speaking on BBC Television this morning Hickey said “European results at Olympic Games are diminishing all the time. Whereas we used to win the most medals, we are now dropping out of that zone,” he said.

“We have a feeling that a European Games can be used to spark European supremacy again at the Olympic Games.”

Other continents already have their own Games. Later this year the Pan American Games will be held in Mexico, the Pan Arab Games in Qatar and the All-Africa Games in Mozambique. The Asian Games took place last year in China.

However, there are obstacles in the path of any European Games, with the main one being scheduling.

The sporting calendar is already crowded and it would be difficult to add any additional events, meaning a European Games might have to replace existing events such as the European Athletics Championships.

If this were to happen, those running the European Athletics Championships would seek compensation for lost revenue.

Hickey is convinced that a European Games can make more money than all the current individual events combined

If the plans for a European Games are successful the first event is likely to take place in June or September 2015 and London would be a leading candidate to host them, using the facilities built for the 2012 Olympics.

Initially there will only be a summer Games, but the idea is that eventually there would also be a European Winter Games.

 

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