Bid race for Euro 2012 hotting up
 |  Greece's sporting profile has been massively raised by staging the Athens Games. |
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LONDON, England -- Olympic hosts Greece and a joint bid by Hungary and Croatia have entered the race to stage the 2012 European championships.
Greece failed in a bid to host Euro 2008 but their profile has been raised by their team' s victory in Euro 2004 and a successful Athens Games.
Italy and the Ukraine are also expected to throw their hat into the ring by the January 31 deadline for bids.
Much of the spotlight will now fall on the Greece's attempt to bring another major international sporting event to their shores.
"Sports Minister Giorgos Orphanos telephoned the head of the Greek football association to tell him the government has decided to support the bid to host Euro 2012," a statement from Orphanos' office said. "Hosting the tournament would undoubtedly have a positive effect in Greek soccer."
Greece lost an attempt to host the 2008 tournament, which was won by Austria and Switzerland.
Hungary's decision to make a joint bid with Croatia was announced on Friday after the country's cabinet gave its approval.
It is the third time Hungary have bid to host a major soccer tournament after they failed for Euro 2004 and Euro 2008 which went to Portugal and Austria/Switzerland respectively.
The two nations would host two four-team groups each for the 16-team tournament, which is the second largest international soccer tournament behind the World Cup.
Croatia would have to have four suitable stadiums for the tournament with the likely candidates being the cities of Zagreb, Split, Varazdin, Rijeka and Osijek.
The Hungarian Football Association will decide later on the venues for the tournament.
European football's governing body UEFA will draw up a short-list of three candidates in November before announcing the host country in December 2006.
