France favored in 3-nation race to host Euro 2016

Geneva: France appears favored to host football's European Championship in 2016 after UEFA published evaluations of the three bidding nations.

UEFA praised France on Friday for creating a "very good long-term legacy" plan in its bid dossier, which detailed plans for spending euro1.7 billion ($2.1 billion) on stadiums.

France is competing with Italy and Turkey for Euro 2016 hosting rights in a vote scheduled May 28.

UEFA marked down Italy because Rome's Olympic Stadium does not meet standards to host the final, and said the bid offered too few five-star hotels for teams and had unrealistic hopes for ticket sales.

Turkey offered "access to new and interesting markets" for European football, but faced challenges transporting and accommodating fans, UEFA said.

Euro 2016 will see the world's third most-watched sports event — after the World Cup and Summer Olympics — increase from 16 teams to 24.

UEFA is choosing a host six years ahead of kickoff while still facing uncertainty over Ukraine's ability to co-host Euro 2012 with Poland. The eastern European neighbors were given five years to prepare.

UEFA's report said France, Italy and Turkey delivered "impressive" dossiers in February. UEFA officials also visited the candidates last month.

All three would spend heavily on stadiums, with at least nine venues needed to stage the 51-match, monthlong tournament.

France's bid needs public and private investment, and has euro662 million ($819 million) in government guarantees plus euro501 million ($620 million) of secured private funding.

UEFA said France had a "professional" stadium plan. Four new arenas would be built in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon and Nice, and seven are due for renovation to complement the Stade de France in Paris.

The upgraded stadiums —most city-owned — would help their home clubs raise more money by attracting corporate guests and families, the report said.

UEFA noted that France's history of worker strikes "remains a concern," and could affect preparations.

Italy intends spending euro745 million on new stadiums for Cagliari, Palermo and Turin plus eight renovation projects.

The Olympic Stadium, which staged the 2009 Champions League final, doesn't have enough secure space for a hospitality village, broadcasters and parking, UEFA said.

UEFA said Italy has proved it could host big sports events, such as the 2006 Turin Olympics and Giro d'Italia cycle race.

However, just 12 of 78 proposed team hotels were rated five stars, while transport solutions "need to be found" because airports serving the island cities of Cagliari and Palermo were below UEFA's needs, the report said.

Italy previously hosted in 1980 and France in 1984 when the finals was an eight-team event.

UEFA said Turkey, which has never hosted a major football tournament, would benefit from a strong "first-time effect."

The Turkish government has guaranteed the euro920 million budget for building seven new stadiums and renovating the other two proposed venues.

UEFA praised a "realistic" spending target, though questioned if the venues were too big for clubs which would use them.

The report expressed concern about Turkey's airport capacity and transport links outside the main cities of Istanbul and Ankara.

Without new high-speed rail links, UEFA said, "the ability of Bursa, Eskisehir, Konya and Kayseri to host Euro 2016 would be at great risk."

Eskisehir and Konya also would struggle to house visitors among an expected match attendance of 2.3 million fans, the report said.

The three bid teams will make their final presentations to 13 members of UEFA's executive committee just before the vote in Geneva.

UEFA's French president Michel Platini, first vice president Senes Erzik from Turkey, and Italian member Giancarlo Abete are barred from taking part.