Lithuania unveils U19 finals ambassadors

With just over five months to go until the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament, hosts Lithuania have unveiled the tournament ambassadors on a special night in Vilnius.

Plans for the championship, which will run from 20 July to 1 August, are gathering pace with three prominent faces presented to the public and media as finals ambassadors last week: S.S. Lazio defender Marius Stankevičius, singer Marijus Mikutavičius and model Vaida Česnauskienė.

Members of the football community, entertainment stars and local media were in attendance at the event with Mikutavičius and Česnauskienė also present, while Stankevičius – kept away by club commitments – sent a video greeting. "It's a dream for any footballer to play in a major championship," said the Lazio player. "I'm glad the young crop will have this chance."

The finals will be held in four venues and will be the first ever major football tournament staged by Lithuania. "Organising this tournament is a great challenge for us," said Mindaugas Verbickas, director of the local organising committee (LOC). "It is also a reflection of the value of the Lithuanian Football Federation's hard work and experience gained from hosting many smaller tournaments down the years."

Hosts Lithuania will be competing in the finals of a UEFA major tournament for the first time. They will be joined by seven qualifiers from the elite round, which will be contested in May and June. The final tournament draw will be made on 14 June.