Saint-Etienne ready for something special

Saint-Etienne marked a year to go until the city hosts its first UEFA EURO 2016 game with around 3,000 gathering for a programme of events at the Place Chavanelle on Saturday night.

Freestyler Karim got the evening under way with a 15-minute masterclass in ball control, even inviting members of the audience to help out. Local dance troupe Studio 7DC were next up, showing their best hip-hop moves as well as demonstrating their ability in other styles.

"The atmosphere is absolutely amazing," said AS Saint-Étienne co-president Roland Romeyer, having been invited on stage by the city's mayor Gaël Perdriau to officially start the countdown. "It promises a lot for next year."

Accompanied by two members of his team – local sports department head Brigitte Masson and Saint-Etienne Métropole vice-president Roland Goujon – mayor Perdriau was handed the first ticket for the 14 June 2016 game at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard by one of the city's UEFA EURO 2016 ambassadors, former St-Étienne goalkeeper Jérémie Janot. "I have a gift for you from Michel Platini," said Janot to applause from the crowd. 

"Saint-Etienne is a sporting and festive city," said mayor Perdriau, reminding the crowd that the French national team will play at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in the round of 16 "if they finish second in their group".

The city's UEFA EURO 2016 sculpture was then unveiled, with children from three local teams – SUC Terrenoire, Avant-Garde de Saint-Étienne et ASPTT Saint-Étienne – releasing balloons to mark the occasion, before the evening's celebrations concluded with a set from Nazim.