Paris: The European Olympic Committee will on Saturday nominate the Netherlands to host the 2019 European Games as it seeks to build the event into a major international date, officials said.
The EOC will hold a special assembly in Turkey on Saturday to hear final proposals from Dutch Olympic officials and give approval, said EOC president Pat Hickey.
More talks are to be held with the Dutch government, however, on financial guarantees and other details, officials said.
Amsterdam, The Hague and Eindhoven are expected to be the centrepiece of a nationwide bid for the Games. Rotterdam and Utrecht have withdrawn however because of the cost, according to Dutch media.
European sports chiefs are keeping other countries in mind in case a replacement is needed.
The first European Games are to be held in Azerbaijan in June and, as it faces growing competition in the sporting calendar, the EOC has been anxious to settle the hosts for the second event.
“The host city selection process for the 2019 European Games is firmly on track.
“The EOC has identified its preferred hosts, the Netherlands Olympic Committee, and they will present their proposed European Games concept to the general assembly in Belek on Saturday,” said Hickey.
“The general assembly will then vote on whether to ratify in principle the Netherlands as hosts of the next European Games.
“If the Netherlands’ proposal is ratified, the EOC will continue its private negotiations with all stakeholders — including the Dutch government — until a definitive sporting, commercial and financial plan is finalised.”
