Euro 2008 SA chief operating officer Martin Kallen declared that plans for the UEFA EURO 2008™ final round in June 2008 are progressing smoothly as the organisers' management board gave a progress report on preparations so far on the eve of the draw for the final tournament.
Going to plan
Speaking at the KKL in Lucerne, the setting for tomorrow's draw, Kallen said: "We are very well on track for the moment and all our key milestones have been achieved so far. But as you know, as an event organiser there might suddenly be something to deal with. But we are happy that work is going according to schedule. These are very interesting days for us as the 7 June is not very far away and we are all looking forward to tomorrow's draw."
Stadiums almost completed
At the outset of the progress report, Austrian tournament director Christian Schmölzer and his Swiss counterpart Christian Mutschler gave updates on preparations in their countries and especially in the eight host cities. They reported that construction work had largely been completed at all the stadiums. "Work to enlarge the capacity at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion - the venue for the final - will take place in the next few weeks and the enlarged spectator areas will be used for the first time for the match between Austria and Germany on 6 February 2008," Schmölzer said.
Ticket update
Kallen reported that 33 per cent of tickets for the final tournament had already been sold to the general public in the first sales phase. Over 8.7 million ticket applications - 18 times more than for UEFA EURO 2004™ - had been received in total with some 650,000 applications for the final alone. He said: "The fact that applications were received from 142 countries shows the worldwide appeal of UEFA EURO 2008™." He added: "We are very happy that well over 70 per cent of tickets will go directly to real football supporters." The sale of the 38 per cent of tickets reserved for the competing national associations - by the associations themselves – will begin after the final draw.
Milestones reached
Among the other milestones recognised by the management board in their progress report were the selling of over 79 per cent of corporate hospitality packages, the availability of free public transport for ticket holders for a 36-hour period for the first time in such an event and the fact that over 10,600 people had already applied to be volunteers at the final tournament.
Fanzones ready
Both Kallen and Schmölzer said they were satisfied that all host cities could deal with the expected influx of supporters. Kallen said: "As regards the numners of people at the fanzones, we obviously cannot compare with Germany in 2006 and especially with Berlin but the fanzones are of the size needed ranging up to Vienna with a capacity of 7,000." Schmölzer added: "The cities aware of the dimensions involved and they are all looking forward to the draw tomorrow to find out which teams are where and then they can adapt their planning according to these needs."
Key dates ahead
Kallen concluded by looking forward to the key milestones ahead including the end of the media accreditation application process on 31 January 2008, the launch of euro2008.com, the official event website, in early 2008, the end of the volunteer selection process on 31 March and the opening of the media centres in Basel and Vienna ahead of the opening match, in Basel, on 7 June.
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