The joint Euro 2008 bid between Ireland and Scotland received a shot in the arm this morning when it emerged the Government had submitted documents to UEFA reiterating its commitment to the delivery of two suitable venues for Euro 2008.
It remains unclear whether this represents a fresh commitment on behalf of the Government to the construction of Stadium Ireland, although it is believed a new stadium will be built should Croke Park not be available for the championship.
The uncertainty over the stadium issue has hampered the bid to date but with the winner due to be announced tomorrow, the Government delivered documents to UEFA officials last night copperfastening its promise to have the stadia in place.
A Government spokesman confirmed to ireland.comthat a letter was sent to UEFA yesterday.
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"The Cabinet has signed off on a letter to UEFA, which is part of the competitive process," the spokesman said.
The spokesman refused to confirm whether the letter made a commitment to deliver the Stadium Ireland project in time for the soccer tournament.
Scottish Football Association chief executive Mr David Taylor, who will make today's final presentation on behalf of the combined bid, said: "We have various agreements signed with our Irish friends and their stadium counterparts and they have all been submitted to UEFA."
Officials from the FAI and the SFA are at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland today preparing to make their final presentation to the UEFA executive committee.
Amid furious lobbying behind the scenes, the bid team will be heard for the final time today at 4.15 p.m. (Irish time).
The seven candidates will be short-listed to two or three tomorrow morning before the successful campaign is announced tomorrow lunchtime.
The joint bid between Switzerland and Austria is regarded as clear favourite by many although the Celtic bid is believed to have more than an outside chance of hosting the championships.
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