Dub13
23-11-2007, 07:22 PM
Scotland are going alone this time....
Walter Smith plans to be soaking up the sun on distant shores by 2016 but he believes Scotland would be worthy hosts of the European Championships in nine years’ time.
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced that a feasibility study will be carried out to examine whether Scotland could bid to stage the 2016 tournament.
Initial discussions have taken place with the Scottish Football Association.
A joint bid with the Republic of Ireland to stage Euro 2008 failed, and Scotland would seek to go it alone this time.
Rangers manager Smith, 59, said: “Same as the Commonwealth Games, it would be great for the country if we manage to host a major tournament. But I’m afraid, by 2016, I’ll be on a beach.”
Veteran Gers defender David Weir laughed along with reporters when asked whether he might still be playing in 2016.
But the 37-year-old Scotland international believes hosting the European Championships, two years after Glasgow stages the Commonwealth Games, would be an occasion for everyone to look forward to.
“It’d be great for the country,” said Weir.
“I think that’s the next step, to host an event like that. That would be great for Scotland.
“With the Commonwealth Games bid, we’ve obviously managed to get that, so hopefully that can be the next one.”
Salmond had earlier told The Scotsman: “I talked about this with the SFA and we will have a feasibility study.
“There are a number of factors which have to be taken into account, not the least of which is the number of teams which will be in the tournament.
“But we will have a feasibility study looking at that relationship of that tournament with other possible bids for various events (such as) UEFA cup finals.”
Link (http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mhmhqlqlcwsn/)
Walter Smith plans to be soaking up the sun on distant shores by 2016 but he believes Scotland would be worthy hosts of the European Championships in nine years’ time.
First Minister Alex Salmond has announced that a feasibility study will be carried out to examine whether Scotland could bid to stage the 2016 tournament.
Initial discussions have taken place with the Scottish Football Association.
A joint bid with the Republic of Ireland to stage Euro 2008 failed, and Scotland would seek to go it alone this time.
Rangers manager Smith, 59, said: “Same as the Commonwealth Games, it would be great for the country if we manage to host a major tournament. But I’m afraid, by 2016, I’ll be on a beach.”
Veteran Gers defender David Weir laughed along with reporters when asked whether he might still be playing in 2016.
But the 37-year-old Scotland international believes hosting the European Championships, two years after Glasgow stages the Commonwealth Games, would be an occasion for everyone to look forward to.
“It’d be great for the country,” said Weir.
“I think that’s the next step, to host an event like that. That would be great for Scotland.
“With the Commonwealth Games bid, we’ve obviously managed to get that, so hopefully that can be the next one.”
Salmond had earlier told The Scotsman: “I talked about this with the SFA and we will have a feasibility study.
“There are a number of factors which have to be taken into account, not the least of which is the number of teams which will be in the tournament.
“But we will have a feasibility study looking at that relationship of that tournament with other possible bids for various events (such as) UEFA cup finals.”
Link (http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/mhmhqlqlcwsn/)