Turkey aim for 'best-ever' U17 finals

Making its mark
The tournament kicks off in Antalya on Sunday, running until 16 May, making full use of the famed sport facilities in the Mediterranean resort. And Çölgeçen, who like many of the local organising committee had a leading role in putting on the 2005 UEFA Champions League final in Istanbul, is ambitious that the youth tournament will make a mark throughout Europe.

Ambition
"We are trying to make the best Under-17 finals ever," he told uefa.com. "This is our motto. So we are not holding back on anything. We are spending a lot of money because we know it is for the benefit of Turkey in the long-run, to make our country better known. So we have made great sacrifices, paying for mascots and other things. And the venue is fantastic. The kids will have the time of their life."

New venue
Çölgeçen added: "We have the full support of the municipality of Antalya. It is well known for such events as international rallies, world basketball and now this." The venue for most of the televised games is the brand-new Mardan Sport Complex, and Çölgeçen emphasises the important of international exposure to the host city. "Eurosport has given us the chance to run a 30-second film about Antalya before every game," he added. "The new stadium is fantastic, constructed by a Russian investor building the most expensive hotel ever in Europe. That hotel cost €500m and he has also invested €50m in a small stadium and camp facilities. This is where we will have the opening game. [UEFA Youth and Amateur Football Committee first vice-chairman] Jim Boyce was flabbergasted. "