CAMPBELL OGILVIE has revealed that the Scottish Football Association are using the success of the Commonwealth Games as a last-minute lobbying tool in their attempt to bring four Euro 2020 matches to Hampden Park.
The governing body have submitted a proposal to host three group fixtures and a last-16 game in the groundbreaking pan-European event and are continuing to speak to members of UEFA's Executive Committee ahead of the September 19 vote in which 19 competing bids will be whittled down to the final 13.
Formal documents were lodged with UEFA before the Games took place, but Ogilvie, president of the national association, admits he is actively involved in alerting those judging the rival campaigns to the impressive level of ticket sales and visitor numbers as well as the response of the Glasgow public during the 12-day spectacular.
"I believe there were 600,000 visitors to the Games alone and ticket sales over the 17 sports was something like 96%," Ogilvie said. "To get 50,000 people volunteering for 15,000 places as Clydesiders is another plus. The key is what the city and people can do to help boost the bid."
The SFA, under the guidance of the late David Taylor, failed in an attempt to co-host the 2008 European Championship with Ireland with transport problems cited as one of the main reasons that particular bid was voted down.
But Ogilvie believes things have changed in the ensuing decade or so and believes Glasgow 2014 eased any concerns over the infrastructure that exists.
"We are probably one of the few bids with three international airports within an hour's drive of the centre of Glasgow," he said. "Motorway links are key areas within the bid too.
"There were 600,000 visitors to the Commonwealth Games alone and Glasgow has, I think, two million visitors a year. I know there were a few hiccups during the Games, but, overall, there were very few issues."
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