Scottish Government investment of up to £73 million will go into
co-hosting the UEFA European Championships in 2028.
Glasgow's Hampden Park will be one of nine football grounds in
eight cities to host matches as part of the largest sporting
event jointly staged by the UK and Ireland with around three
million tickets expected to go on sale.
Attracting a worldwide audience, the benefits to Scotland are
estimated to be worth around £270 million.
Scottish Government funding includes £3.2 million for projects to
help local communities as part of a wider UK and Ireland partner
social impact fund of around £45 million. This will include
programmes to enable more people to participate in the game –
especially those from underrepresented groups and in less
advantaged communities.
Funding will also cover delivery of the tournament in Scotland,
security costs and some upgrades to Hampden to ensure compliance
with UEFA's requirements.
Ahead of the tournament's official launch, First Minister met children at the Scottish
Football Association's Extra Time programme in Castlemilk,
Glasgow, which provides free activity clubs for primary age
pupils outside of school hours to support families on low
incomes.
Mr Swinney said:
“Our investment in EURO 2028 will bring significant benefits not
only during the tournament but long after it concludes by
creating jobs, driving regional prosperity and encouraging
visitors to our shores.
“This spectacle of European football's finest will bring
communities together and offer a fresh opportunity to provide a
warm Scottish welcome, deliver vibrant celebrations and reinforce
our global reputation for hospitality.
“With funding going into health and wellbeing programmes across
Scotland, the EUROs can be a force for good in tackling
inequalities and supporting communities.
“The Scottish Government has already invested £5.5 million in the
Extra Time programme – and I've seen what a huge difference that
has made to children and families in Scotland. I'm pleased we are
able to provide further benefits to local communities by being a
part of this once-in-a-generation event.”
Background
The UEFA European Championship, also referred to
as EURO, is a four-yearly tournament held
between the member countries of UEFA. It is second in prestige to
the FIFA World Cup in international men's football tournaments.
The Scottish Parliament this week passed Stage 1 of the UEFA
European Championship (Scotland) Bill to put in place certain
commercial protections to allow Scotland to co-host the
tournament. Scotland must meet UEFA's requirements for protecting
commercial rights - conditions applied to all host nations. While
some protections exist, additional legislation is required.
So the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill focuses on
three areas:
- Prohibiting unauthorised sale of tickets for more than face
value or for profit.
- Restricting unauthorised street trading and advertising
within designated event zones.
- Providing enforcement powers to implement these protections
effectively.
