viernes, 23 de mayo de 2008

Euro-Fans choose slogans for Euro 2008 team buses

By Mark Ledsom BERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - Supporters of the national sides competing at Euro 2008 have been given a new way of driving their teams on.

Tournament organisers on Thursday presented the designs of the 16 participating team's buses including some colourful messages of support selected by the fans in an online survey.

The supporters of the host nations seem to differ in their tournament ambitions with Switzerland's bus declaring, "Final destination: Vienna," referring to the tournament final in the Austrian capital on June 29.

Co-hosts Austria, whose preparations have been hampered by a string of bad results and internal spats, will travel to their games with the more cautious message: "Only together we can win…"

The full list of messages presented on the official tournament Web site (www.euro2008.uefa.com) includes a somewhat poetic entry by fans of reigning world champions Italy who assert that "the sky is always bluer."

Perhaps influenced by their team's reputation for underperformance, Spanish fans have opted for "Whatever happens, Spain always."

Russian supporters have weighed in one of the wordier contributions, proudly declaring that "Russian hands are all for one! Russia's proud of her sons!"

The emotional Turks meanwhile ask "Would passion of Turkey fit into this bus?"

The messages chosen by the supporters will be painted on the team buses in each country's own language and in English for the tournament which begins on June 7.