November 25 – Euro 2016 organisers, mindful of heightened security following the Paris terrorist attacks, are hopeful of retaining traditional fan zones so that supporters will be allowed to watch matches on big screens in public areas.
France’s sports minister Patrick Kanner said fan zones would “tell the French people and foreigners that everything is under control”.
Euro 2016 will be played from June 10 to July 10 in 10 French venues: Paris, Saint-Denis, Lens, Lille, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse and Nice.
In Paris, the fan zone is expected to have a 120,000 capacity and will be situated on the Champs de Mars, below the Eiffel Tower.
Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said after a briefing on Tuesday that security would be reinforced but “the popular dimension of this competition should not be penalised by the current context.”
France has been in a state of emergency since the co-ordinated attacks that killed 130 and injured over 350. The draw for the 2016 finals takes place in Paris on December 12 amidst what is expected to be intense security with so many leading officials and coaches present.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734948392labto1734948392ofdlr1734948392owedi1734948392sni@w1734948392ahsra1734948392w.wer1734948392dna1734948392