U-20 World Cup Kicks Off in Style in Istanbul
First FIFA competition in Turkey lights the way for Istanbul 2020’s Olympic Games bid
Istanbul, Turkey; 22 June 2013: One of Istanbul's key proposed venues for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the Seyrantepe Stadium – last night played host to the opening match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 – a competition which adds to Turkey's already impressive record of staging major sports events.
The 52,000 all-seater stadium is one of five proposed football venues in Istanbul 2020’s candidature file and fans present on Friday night saw France beat Ghana 3-1 followed by a 4-1 win for Spain over USA. In the opening night’s other games in Kayseri, Korea Rebublic beat Cuba 2-1 and Portugal beat Nigeria 3-2. These matches were followed by a spectacular 14-minute opening ceremony showcasing Anatolian culture.
The selection of Turkey to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which features 52 games in total across seven Turkish cities, provides the country’s sport authorities with further experience of holding major, international events. Over the past seven years Turkey has held more than 40 major sporting competitions and, as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the country is currently staging the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin.
Hasan Arat, Chairman of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee, said:
“I am delighted that Turkey was chosen to host the Under-20 World Cup. As FIFA will see over the next three weeks, Turkey delivers an exceptional sports-event platform, mixing iconic backdrops with technical excellence allowing fans and athletes to enjoy the drama and freedom of athletic pursuit.
“The Under-20 World Cup is the first official FIFA competition Turkey has ever held and Istanbul 2020 also represents a number of historic firsts for the Olympic Movement. It would be the first time Turkey hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first time a Games takes place across two continents simultaneously and the first time in Games history that anyone will be able to watch an Olympic or Paralympic event in Asia in the morning and another in Europe in the afternoon. To the Olympic Movement Istanbul 2020 really does represent a bridge to a new culture.”
Istanbul 2020’s promise of delivering its robust Games Plan is underlined by the efficiency with which the stages for both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2013 Mediterranean Games have been prepared. In the case of the Mediterranean Games, Mersin has compressed a six-year construction programme into 18 months after replacing the original choice of Volos-Larisa in Greece less than two years ago.
While both these events will showcase Turkey to the world, football’s mass appeal means a total of five hundred million viewers in more than 190 countries are expected to watch matches during FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013.
Jim Boyce, Organising Committee Chairman for FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013, said:
“As you know, Turkey are bidding to host the Olympic Games and obviously this tournament, which is going to go out worldwide, is hopefully going to show Turkey in the proper light.
“I know that the football public in Turkey are eagerly looking forward to this event. The FIFA Under-20 World Cup is second only to the FIFA World Cup, so I think this is a very important occasion for Turkish football and a very important occasion for Turkey as a country.”
Notes to Editors:
After USA’s loss to Spain at the Seyrantepe Stadium in Istanbul, head coach Tab Ramos commented:
“In terms of security, we feel secure and we feel we are in a good place and Turkey is a great place to be right now. There is no reason for us to think any differently. We actually drove 45 minutes across town to get to practice and drove through the whole city. There were no signs other than normal life around here.”
USA captain Caleb Stanko added: “We feel really safe. There is nothing really scary going on.”
For more information, please contact the Istanbul 2020 media team:
media@istanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @istanbul2020TR
or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020
Istanbul, Turkey; 22 June 2013: One of Istanbul's key proposed venues for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – the Seyrantepe Stadium – last night played host to the opening match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 – a competition which adds to Turkey's already impressive record of staging major sports events.
The 52,000 all-seater stadium is one of five proposed football venues in Istanbul 2020’s candidature file and fans present on Friday night saw France beat Ghana 3-1 followed by a 4-1 win for Spain over USA. In the opening night’s other games in Kayseri, Korea Rebublic beat Cuba 2-1 and Portugal beat Nigeria 3-2. These matches were followed by a spectacular 14-minute opening ceremony showcasing Anatolian culture.
The selection of Turkey to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which features 52 games in total across seven Turkish cities, provides the country’s sport authorities with further experience of holding major, international events. Over the past seven years Turkey has held more than 40 major sporting competitions and, as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the country is currently staging the 2013 Mediterranean Games in Mersin.
Hasan Arat, Chairman of the Istanbul 2020 Bid Committee, said:
“I am delighted that Turkey was chosen to host the Under-20 World Cup. As FIFA will see over the next three weeks, Turkey delivers an exceptional sports-event platform, mixing iconic backdrops with technical excellence allowing fans and athletes to enjoy the drama and freedom of athletic pursuit.
“The Under-20 World Cup is the first official FIFA competition Turkey has ever held and Istanbul 2020 also represents a number of historic firsts for the Olympic Movement. It would be the first time Turkey hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the first time a Games takes place across two continents simultaneously and the first time in Games history that anyone will be able to watch an Olympic or Paralympic event in Asia in the morning and another in Europe in the afternoon. To the Olympic Movement Istanbul 2020 really does represent a bridge to a new culture.”
Istanbul 2020’s promise of delivering its robust Games Plan is underlined by the efficiency with which the stages for both the FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2013 Mediterranean Games have been prepared. In the case of the Mediterranean Games, Mersin has compressed a six-year construction programme into 18 months after replacing the original choice of Volos-Larisa in Greece less than two years ago.
While both these events will showcase Turkey to the world, football’s mass appeal means a total of five hundred million viewers in more than 190 countries are expected to watch matches during FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013.
Jim Boyce, Organising Committee Chairman for FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013, said:
“As you know, Turkey are bidding to host the Olympic Games and obviously this tournament, which is going to go out worldwide, is hopefully going to show Turkey in the proper light.
“I know that the football public in Turkey are eagerly looking forward to this event. The FIFA Under-20 World Cup is second only to the FIFA World Cup, so I think this is a very important occasion for Turkish football and a very important occasion for Turkey as a country.”
Notes to Editors:
After USA’s loss to Spain at the Seyrantepe Stadium in Istanbul, head coach Tab Ramos commented:
“In terms of security, we feel secure and we feel we are in a good place and Turkey is a great place to be right now. There is no reason for us to think any differently. We actually drove 45 minutes across town to get to practice and drove through the whole city. There were no signs other than normal life around here.”
USA captain Caleb Stanko added: “We feel really safe. There is nothing really scary going on.”
For more information, please contact the Istanbul 2020 media team:
media@istanbul2020.com.tr
Alternatively, find us online at www.istanbul2020.com.tr
on Twitter: @istanbul2020TR
or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Istanbul2020