Five reasons to smile: Philipp Lahm reflects on EURO 2024
Monday, December 23, 2024
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UEFA EURO 2024 tournament director and Germany legend Philipp Lahm looks back on a summer that provided standout moments on and off the pitch.
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UEFA EURO 2024 wasn't just a celebration of excellent football, it was a vibrant celebration that united millions of fans in Germany and beyond, showcasing the unifying power of football and its role in promoting health, education and social sustainability.
Tournament director Philipp Lahm picks out his favourite aspects of a month-long extravaganza of the game that will live long in the memory.
A party for everyone
Some of the most striking scenes of UEFA EURO 2024 took place on the streets. Fifty thousand Dutch fans marched through Hamburg and Munich ahead of their team’s matches, dressed in vibrant costumes, singing, and in high spirits. The Austrians did the same in Berlin. And, of course, the Scots brought their cheerfulness and musical flair, spreading joy throughout Germany.
All 2.7 million tickets were sold, and we could have likely sold ten times that number. Massive communities from each of the other 23 nations came to Germany and globally, more than five billion people tuned in to watch.
The power of the game
Football, as a popular sport, reflects so much: it promotes physical activity, health, education, and personal growth. These are the very issues I've been committed to for years through my foundation. Most importantly, what happens both in the stadium and on the way there serves a role within our societies.
This summer’s tournament was the sporting highlight of the football calendar. But it was more than that: people came together, enjoyed a break from daily life, and celebrated themselves, their sport, and a free way of living. That’s exactly what we aimed to achieve. Europe displayed its identity.
Once again, football fulfilled its purpose. Geopolitics, globalisation, and climate challenges confront us all with tremendous obstacles. We need to strengthen our resilience and uphold our values. Less self-realization, more self-preservation—this shift in mindset is the demand of the times. Euro 2024 offered a hopeful perspective on the world. That, to me, is social sustainability.
Diversity and competitiveness
In Georgia, tens of thousands took to the streets to celebrate their team’s first-time qualification and advance to the round of 16. Their team was the surprise of the tournament. On the pitch, every team showed resilience and competitiveness. I was once skeptical about whether it was a good idea to have 24 participants. After this tournament, I am no longer doubtful. European football is rich in diversity.
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The group stage was filled with passionate, exciting duels, with games swinging back and forth. The players gave their all, and the fans roared the ball into the net. The knockout stage featured spectacular, enthralling matches like Spain versus Germany and Spain versus France.
Deserving champions
In the end, UEFA crowned a well-deserved and magnificent winner in Berlin. Spain, with a young team, renewed its superior style of technical, combination play. The best team won with seven victories in seven matches.
The tournament’s achievements were embodied by the Spanish captain. He represents sporting excellence, leadership, teamwork, and responsibility. Europe needs role models, and Rodri is such a role model.
For future generations
The pioneers of international sport envisioned fostering international understanding and human rights. These goals must always be pursued, on both small and large scales. The Olympic Games in Paris did so, as does every youth football tournament in the countryside, supporting local clubs for the benefit of all.
UEFA follows a similar approach, distributing funds throughout the football pyramid. Since 2004, as they report, an average of two-thirds of the net revenue from each Euro tournament has been distributed to Europe’s 55 national associations through the HatTrick programme. UEFA has pledged that €935 million from this year’s tournament will be invested in a wide range of projects.
In addressing ecological concerns, we focused on the circular economy. We implemented numerous measures to keep Euro’s footprint minimal. For instance, following the tournament, we partnered with a sponsor to initiate an upcycling project that repurposed banners, flags, and other plastic materials used in the stadiums and fan zones. The principle is zero waste.
With a background in football, I saw myself as suited to the role of tournament director—a rewarding responsibility that I thoroughly enjoyed. UEFA EURO 2024 fulfilled its purpose. Now, it’s time to continue this work again and again.