Euro 2008 bid proposal given to UEFA today

Scotland and Ireland’s joint bid to stage the Euro 2008 football tournament was finally handed over to Uefa today.

Representatives from both countries submitted their finals plans to host the prestigious tournament to Uefa bosses at a meeting in Switzerland.

Football chiefs from both countries said they believed their bid stood ‘‘a great chance’’ of being picked.

Seven bids were presented to Uefa at a special ceremony held at the House of Football in Nyon.

Simon Lyons, marketing director for the Scotland and Ireland Euro 2008 bid, said he and Scottish Football Association chief David Taylor and bid manager John Henderson, were delighted to have the chance to discuss the merits of their proposal in person.

‘‘This is a terrific chance for us to go into detail about this bid in front of Uefa officials and the media in Switzerland,’’ Mr Lyons said.

‘‘We are still very confident about it and believe it stands a great chance.’’

Mr Lyons said he believed Ireland’s success in the World Cup coupled with the smooth-running of the Champions League final held in Glasgow last month would help the bid.

‘‘We are pleased with the timing of this visit and will use every opportunity given to us to promote our bid,’’ Mr Lyons said.

‘‘This is not just a football tournament, it is about festival and fiesta and creating a carnival atmosphere.

‘‘The Irish fans showed they are experts at that over in Japan and South Korea and the Scots demonstrated that at the Champions League final last month, but anyway both nations have a reputation as fun-loving football countries.’’

The Celtic bid is one of seven being put forward for consideration.

Only two of the bids are from single associations, the remaining are based on joint bids from between two and four countries.

Mr Lyons said another positive factor about the Celtic bid was the fact it offered 1.7 million seats at the eight stadia which would be used.

He added: ‘‘The media are saying that our nearest rival is the Scandinavian bid, and they can only offer 1.2 million seats.’’

Uefa officials are due to visit all the prospective host countries in September.