Paris counting down to UEFA EURO 2016
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
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Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo and former France defender Frank Leboeuf outlined what fans can expect in the capital this time next year during UEFA EURO 2016.
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Former French internationals Frank Leboeuf, Grégory Coupet and Vikash Dhorasoo were in attendance as Paris celebrated one year to go until UEFA EURO 2016.
The players were supported at the event, held at the Centre Sportif Jules Ladoumègue, by city mayor Anne Hidalgo, who arrived arm in arm with Super Victor. Paris will host four group stage fixtures and a round of 16 tie next summer. "Football will be everywhere," said Mrs Hidalgo. "We have a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Paris always needs to reveal herself and to vibrate in unison with the rest of the world through great events such as this."
Supporters will be able to mingle at a 120,000-capacity fan zone at Champ de Mars, where every match will be shown on a giant screen and David Guetta will kick the festivities off with a free concert on 9 June. Fans, locals and tourists can also enjoy a number of sporting, cultural and artistic activities on the Paris Foot Tour, which will link the Parc des Princes and Stade de France and take in the Berges de Seine and the Place de le République.
At the heart of the capital's one-year countdown is Generation '98, a tournament for footballers aged between 18 and 20. Strengthened by several erstwhile professionals from Paris, the winning side will then play the France team of 1998–2000 at the Stade Jean Bouin in May 2016.
Leboeuf, a 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 winner, explained the thinking behind the initiative, which was announced today. "These young lads weren't born or don't have any memories of what happened in the summer of '98," he said. "There's a new generation and it's our mission to show them that France is a winning country which knows how to organise such events."
Coupet, capped 34 times by Les Bleus and vice-president of Club des internationaux de France (CIF), added: "To take part in the organisation of this event is a way to pass on the baton. To promote our country, our sport and to make this event a beautiful party is a [source of] great motivation."
