Nordic states to bid for Euro 2008

Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, are to launch a joint campaign to host the European championship finals in 2008.

Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, are to launch a joint campaign to host the European championship finals in 2008.

At a session in Copenhagen, the prime ministers of the five Nordic states came out in support of the idea.

Iceland, the fifth Nordic country, would not stage any of the championship matches and only two of the host nations would be allowed to qualify automatically for the finals according to UEFA rules.

Applications to host the June 7th-29th 2008 finals have to reach UEFA by May next year, with a decision to be made by December 2002.

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Other countries so far competing to host the 2008 championships include Hungary, Switzerland/Austria, Greece/Turkey and Scotland.

The idea would be to play the opening match of the 2008 European championships in Copenhagen with the final to be staged in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Nordic Council has allotted some 12 million crowns ($1.5 million) to the "Nordic 2008" project for 2001-02.