The Netherlands is an official candidate to host the 2019 European Games, members of the Dutch Olympic and national athletics committee agreed on Tuesday night.

However, the organisation says the financing remains a stumbling block and needs to be finalised before a final decision can be taken. On Tuesday, Utrecht became the second city to bow out of organising the judo and volleyball competition, citing the cost.

According to broadcaster Nos, the Netherlands is the only serious candidate to host the games. ‘We have an advantage because our plans meet all the demands of the European Olympic committee,’ NOV*NSF chairman Andre Bolhuis told Nos after the members’ meeting.

The European Games are a new event in the international sports calender and will be held every four years. The first games take place in Baku in Azerbaijan this June and will feature 20 sports involving swimming, gymnastics and athletics.

Price tag

The organisation of the 2019 games has a price tag of €125m which the sports body hopes to raise from national, local and provincial government as well as commercial sponsorship.

A number of sports associations are known to be concerned about the finances and have criticised the government for not coming forward with a substantial part of the budget.

Bolhuis said that if there was not proper clarity about the financing by November, then the Netherlands would not host the games.

Minister

‘If local councils, provinces and the state don’t contribute then we can’t organise the games and it won’t happen,’ he said.

The budget anticipates a €27m contribution from national government and Bolhuis is meeting sports minister Edith Schippers on Thursday to discuss the finances.

The host city for 2019 will be announced in May and the decision will be taken on the basis of negotiations rather than bidding to minimise costs.