Turkey’s Ministry of Youth and Sports and the European Olympic Committees (EOC) signed an Agreement with the host country in Istanbul to host the third European Summer Games in 2027.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of officials from both sides. The document was signed by the Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Ashkin Bak and the President of the EOC Spyros Kapralos.
As part of the same event, the composition of the EOC Coordination Commission for the preparations for the Games in Istanbul was officially approved. The commission is headed by Mihai Covaliu, a member of the EOC Executive Committee, President of the National Olympic Committee of Romania. The Commission will continuously monitor the progress of preparations over the next 19 months and provide the necessary support.
Minister Osman Ashkin Bak in his speech emphasized that the signing of the agreement confirms the Turkish government’s strong determination to host a truly outstanding sporting event. “Istanbul has a rich and proud history of hosting major international competitions. We are very much looking forward to hosting Europe’s best athletes in Turkey as they pursue their Olympic dreams. To showcase the highest level of Turkish sport and legendary Turkish hospitality to the entire continent, we are working closely with the EOC, the Turkish National Olympic Committee and the Municipality of Istanbul,” said the head of the department.
EOC President Spyros Kapralos thanked Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports for its clear and strong commitment to the success of the Games. “When Istanbul was chosen as the host, we immediately knew that we had a world-class organizer with a proven track record of hosting great sporting events. The EOC has excellent relationships with all Turkish partners, and today’s agreement once again confirms the ministry’s unwavering support,” he said.
Kapralos drew attention to the fact that the European Games are the continent’s premier multi-sport event. “We are extremely excited that the strongest athletes in Europe will gather in Istanbul in 2027. Many of them will be here fighting for Olympic spots,” he said.
Chairman of the Coordination Commission Mihai Covaliu noted that he is proud to have the opportunity to lead such a dedicated team. “We are looking forward to the January visit, which will be the first official stage of preparations. Istanbul is a city with an amazing sporting heritage and world-class infrastructure. We intend to work very closely with our Turkish colleagues to give athletes and fans a truly unforgettable experience,” he added.
The 2027 European Games in Istanbul will be the continent’s largest multi-sports forum and a qualifying tournament for a number of sports for the summer Olympic Games 2028 in Los Angeles.