The new funds for building and renovating eight stadium designated to stage fixtures will be announced by Sports minister Bernard Laporte, according to 10 Sport.com.

 

The cash is to be accompanied by new legislation allowing public money to help finance private construction or renovation projects required to bring the venues up to the standard required to host a major championships like Euro 2016.

 

The Sports Minister Bernard Laporte said: "We are to release 100 million euros for the stadiums, which shows the will of the government to support this candidacy.

"I am here to show the state is supporting the project.

 

"We must host such big events in France so that our country shines in the whole world,"

 

France, the hosts in 1984, are one of four candidates hoping to stage Euro 2016, the others being Italy, Turkey and a joint Scandinavian bid from Sweden and Norway.

 

The host nation or nations will be announced by UEFA, European football's governing body, on May 27, 2010.

 

UEFA has stipulated that the winning bid must have at its disposal nine stadium with a capacity of between 30,000 and 50,000 for a competition which for the first time will feature 24 teams.

 

The French bid involves the building of new grounds in Lille, Lyon, Nice and Strasbourg and major renovaition at four others - Lens, Marseille, Saint Etienne and Nancy.

 

The other venues are at Nantes, Rennes, Bordeaux, Toulouse and the country's flagship stadium, the Stade de France in Paris.

 

The next European championships in 2012 are being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

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