Heerenveen welcomes U21 trophy

The UEFA European Under-21 Championship trophy made its way from Groningen to Heerenveen on foot on Wednesday after a 75km relay between the two cities.

Relay challenge
A group of Groningen students and SC Heerenveen players took turns to carry the trophy to Heerenveen as it completed its tour of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship venues prior to the finals this summer. Groningen mayor Jacques Wallage and local politician Ineke Mulder fired the starting shot at 8.35 as the relay began at Groningen City Hall, with the runners passing the Euroborg Stadium, Peize, Roden, Bakkeveen, Jubbega and the Abe Lenstra Stadium on their way to Heerenveen City Hall.

Official handover
Top Dutch athlete Epke Zonderland, who recently finished sixth at the European Gymnastics Championship in Amsterdam, ran the final two kilometres, carrying the trophy to Heerenveen City Hall at around 16.00. Former Heerenveen chairman Riemer van der Velde then took the trophy and handed it over to city elderman Coby van der Laan. The trophy will stay in Heerenveen until 22 June, before returning to Groningen's Euroborg Stadium on 23 June, the day of the final.