Toulouse city council unveils first part of its plan

The first of a series of three meetings with local residents marked an important step in Toulouse city council's campaign of information about UEFA EURO 2016.

City centre entertainment was top of the agenda for the meeting, which took place on Thursday evening. There was a good response to the invitation from the city council's sports department, for whom Loïc Cuvelier is the man charged with raising awareness of the positive impact that UEFA EURO 2016 will have on Toulouse, known as La Ville Rose ("the Pink City") in French. 


The message is clear: "Everyone in Toulouse will have a part to play!" The council therefore felt compelled to meet any interested parties from all walks of life, and to keep them up to date. The city's steering group also wanted to collect comments and suggestions that could contribute to the hosting of the tournament and to the creation of an entertainment programme for the city.

Four UEFA EURO 2016 matches will be played at Stadium de Toulouse, on 13, 17, 20 and 26 June – three group stage games and one in the round of 16.

Before discussing the volunteer programme next Thursday and then transport in two weeks' time, the first meeting was mostly taken up with the discussion of entertainment activities and the introduction of the hubs from which they will be controlled, which will be unveiled in January and May 2016. Those attending the meeting also learned that a fan zone will be set up on Place du Capitole, at which matches will be broadcast on a giant screen.

Furthermore, a fan embassy will be set up near Square Charles de Gaulle to offer fans practical information on accommodation, transport and tourist activities. Several key routes will be marked out by So Toulouse, the body tasked with encouraging all those – residents included – who want to find out everything there is to know about what the city has to offer.