The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, the home of Galatasaray, will host the 2005 Champions League final, UEFA European soccer's governing body announced on 5.2.2004
Istanbul will host next year's final of European club football's most prestigious competition after a rigorous assessment procedure involving a number of top-class European stadiums that had been put forward as candidates.
The Ataturk Olympic Stadium holds 80,000 spectators. It was picked over five other venues, including Stade de France (Paris), Vicente Calderón (Madrid), Estádio do Dragão (Porto), José Alvalade and Estádio da Luz (both Lisbon). UEFA's recommendation was made on the basis of assessments that included studies of airport and hotel facilities, supporter segregation factors, hospitality, media facilities and partner interest.
In a separate announcement, it was confirmed that Istanbul will also stage the fifth UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup in 2005.
These preferences will not go unnoticed by the IOC in the course of deciding on which city should be trusted to organise the 2012 Games.
Ýstanbuls answers to the IOC Questionnarie was sent on 14 January 2004 with letters of undertaking from Prime Minister Mr. Tayyip ERDOGAN, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Sports, Chairman of the Preparation and Organisation Council for the Ýstanbul Olympic Games Mr. Mehmet Ali SAHIN, Mayor Mr. Ali Müfit GÜRTUNA, and Mr. Togay BAYATLI President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey.
In accordance with the Turkish OlympicAct No:3796 that came into effect in 1992, Istanbul is the sole city eligible to receive governmental, financial, legal and administrative support for its bid by Law. Istanbul has participated in three candidate processes to date and on the course has already established many of the conditions required, including those of sportive infrastructure, transportation arteries, and environmental protection. The construction of the 80.000 seat Ataturk Olympic Stadium (on the area of the 584-hectares Olympic Park appropriated cost-free for this purpose by the Olympic Act) is completed in 2002.
Istanbuls Olympic Project is basically unifying in that all Olympic Summer sports will be held in Istanbul and all athletes will be accommodated in one village: * There are two main clusters of competition venues, the Olympic Park and the Southern * Complex which lie 16 kilometers apart. * The Olympic Village is located in between the two main venue clusters. * Both the Olympic Park and the Village developments are planned as model sustainable developments which will remain as an enduring legacy of the Games. * The MPC/IBC lies within the Southern Zone and the Media Village is conveniently located with respect to the MPC/IBC, as well as the Olympic Village. * Specific venue locations such as the Golden Horn, Prince Islands and the Asiatic coast are intended to emphasize the sea as a part of Citys diverse heritage, without requiring major construction activity. * Istanbuls Olympic Project will benefit Olympism in terms of stressing cost-efficiency and limiting the Games budget in accordance with IOC objectives. * Educating the youth through sports and providing an enhanced sports infrastructure to sustain the spreading of sports culture will be a very significant legacy of the Olympic Games in social terms.
There is more than just the technical merits of the Bid.
Istanbul is not only a city that geographically spans two continents, Europe and Asia, and one that has been home to diverse cultures and three celestial religions throughout its long history, offering the precious opportunity to live together in peace and harmony. In the words of the IOC Evaluation Commission for 2008, ... an historic and cultural icon.
World cities are ushered into a new era of redefined and reshaped relations in the 21st century under the powerful impact of globalization. In an era when conflict of civilizations receives frequent reference, Istanbul Games will challenge the conflict and create an awareness of the bridge between civilizations.
Yours sincerely,
Yalcin Aksoy General Director Istanbul Olympic Bidding Committee
