EURO 2016 workshop fine-tunes preparations
Thursday, March 3, 2016
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UEFA EURO 2016 is edging ever closer and an organisational workshop in Paris involving all 24 participating teams has moved preparations several steps forward.
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Preparations for UEFA EURO 2016 have taken another major step forward with an organisational workshop in Paris involving all 24 participating teams.
The workshop at the Pullman Hotel Tour Eiffel in the French capital coincided with the milestone of 100 days to go until the month-long event begins on 10 June.
Detailed information was discussed and exchanged on various matters related to the tournament, including match organisation, transport, logistics, accommodation, safety and security, disciplinary matters and integrity, marketing, communications and media.
Ten venues will host the 51 matches at UEFA EURO 2016 – Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Paris, Saint-Denis, Saint-Etienne and Toulouse. The championship is the first final round in European football's premier national team competition to be contested by 24 sides.
A mixed zone featuring the 24 coaches took place for media representatives, together with a coaches' forum. The coaches were briefed on various aspects of the Laws of the Game by UEFA's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina, as well as on the referee teams' preparations for the tournament, which include their own workshop on the outskirts of Paris from 18–22 April.
The coaches were informed about the UEFA Executive Committee's decision in January to introduce goal-line technology for UEFA EURO 2016. The system will work alongside additional assistant referees, who will continue to monitor all activity in and around the penalty area.
In a special ceremony, the 24 EURO team doctors signed a charter pledging their total backing for UEFA's anti-doping strategy and confirming their commitment to a drug-free tournament.
UEFA EURO 2016 is attracting massive interest from fans, with 16 million requests made for the 2 million tickets already sold. The UEFA EURO 2016 ticket resale platform opens on 9 March and allows fans who have missed out to buy tickets from others who no longer need them. Supporters' representatives have been involved in this week's proceedings in Paris, with a separate conference focusing on the fan embassies' project at the tournament.
Various personalities, including EURO 2016 SAS president Jacques Lambert and French Football Federation (FFF) president Noël Le Graët, attended a press conference at the Maison de la Radio in Paris on Wednesday to mark 100 days to go until UEFA EURO 2016.
They were joined by French secretary of state for sports Thierry Braillard and host city ambassadors including Alain Giresse, Jérémie Janot and Wendie Renard.
"Everything is ready," said Mr Le Graët, who added that the aim of the tournament is to "spread happiness through the game". Mr Braillard also expressed the hope that UEFA EURO 2016 would be "a beautiful party".