Platini excited as EURO draws nearer

The countdown clock continues to tick down to the start of UEFA EURO 2008™ with Michel Platini among the millions of enthusiasts eager for the action to start. "We're almost there now," said the UEFA President in Vienna. "The long wait will soon be over, EURO starts in less than three months and everything is just about ready."

Vienna workshop
Vienna is hosting a workshop for delegations from the 16 participating countries, with issues such as tournament guidelines, services and facilities available to the teams, accommodation, transport, accreditation, pitches, match operations, medical services, television and media and anti-doping matters on the agenda.

Worldwide reach
"There is little point in trying to describe the enthusiasm that surrounds our blue-riband competition," continued Mr Platini. "Just let me give you a figure – we have received, at UEFA level, 8.7 million ticket requests, and the national associations themselves have received several dozens of millions of requests. TV transmissions will cover the entire earth and Austria and Switzerland will be the centre of the world for three weeks.

Real passion
"I have myself visited all of the EURO 2008™ host cities and stadiums. The cities are of course superb, they are all capitals of international tourism, and the stadiums are true football stadiums just as we love them – the supporters, who will be true supporters, will be close to the players – real players who will show us how football really is in stadiums where the visibility is excellent for everyone. To ensure that the festival is complete, numerous cities will also install giant screens where everyone will be able to give free rein to their emotions."

Big numbers
Swiss Football Association president Ralph Zloczower and Austrian Euro 2008 SA board of administration member Herbert Hübel gave figures to back up the importance of what they agreed was "the biggest-ever sporting event ever staged in Austria and Switzerland". Up to two million foreign guests are expected for the final round between 7 and 29 June. Accreditations will total 35,000, with 8,300 media representatives from 100 countries covering the action. Some 5,000 volunteers will be contributing to the smooth running of the event, and 1,500 staff will be deployed per match.

Stadium handover
Eight venues are staging the 31 UEFA EURO 2008™ matches - Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna (Austria), and Basel, Berne, Geneva and Zurich (Switzerland). The eight stadiums will be handed over to Euro 2008 SA on 12 May. This means that special preparatory work can be undertaken, including putting up flags, other dressings and signage, and equipping the media areas.

Kick-off
Training for the volunteers will be taking place during April and May, teams will be announcing their squads on 28 May and the first media briefings will take place in Basel and Vienna on 1 June. The tournament will open at Basel's St. Jakob-Park on 7 June at 18.00CET, when Switzerland take on the Czech Republic. The final will be staged at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna on 29 June at 20.45CET.