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Bids from France, Holland, Spain, Germany and Portugal sign conditional host ageement

Ryder Cup Europe has announced that all five nations bidding to stage the 2018 Ryder Cup have now signed Conditional Host Agreements in advance of the official announcement to name the 2018 host nation for the biennial match between Europe and the United States.

The legally binding agreements mark a definite commitment from each of the bidding candidates. One of those contracts will be activated as soon as the identity of the successful candidate is known following the public announcement and press conference at 12noon on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.

Ryder Cup Director, Richard Hills, was delighted at the confirmation of the bids: “We would like to express our gratitude and congratulations to the representatives of France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain, who responded so professionally and diligently to Ryder Cup Europe’s bidding criteria,” said Hills.

“All five countries have responded positively to the conditions that we laid out, giving us to confidence that each one would be well positioned to host a memorable 2018 Ryder Cup.”

Hills added: “The signing of the Conditional Host Agreements is a very important part of what has been a long and detailed process. It means that when Ryder Cup Europe announces the 2018 host on May 17, a fully binding legal contract is already in place and will be triggered on the announcement of the successful candidate.

“We should remember that the successful nation will be entering into a multi-faceted relationship with Ryder Cup Europe, lasting a minimum of 12 years and benefiting many aspects of golf at all levels.”

One of the most watched sporting events on the planet, selection as the Ryder Cup host nation has become extremely lucrative business.

It has been calculated that the immediate financial return from the 2010 Ryder Cup in South Wales was in the region of £59m; though it required an outlay of around £51m from the Celtic Manor Resort (£16m) and public funds (£35m) to host. Perhaps of greater worth than the instant economic benefit of hosting the Ryder Cup is the continuing affect upon tourism, as well as the cultural and societal legacy of hosting such a prestigious event.

The official announcement on May 17 comes at the conclusion of the first formal bid process undertaken by Ryder Cup Europe, which commenced at the end of 2008 and involved a comprehensive examination of bids submitted by France, Germany, Holland, Portugal and Spain, one of whom will follow Ireland in 2006, Wales in 2010 and the 2014 Host Nation, Scotland, by securing the right to stage the biennial contest in 2018.

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

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