By Samindra Kunti
March 2 – EURO2016 preparations are gaining speed across France as the hosts celebrate a milestone 100 days to go until the kick-off of this summer’s big football tournament, but security remains a top concern for the organisers.
In Paris delegations from the 24 participating national associations have gathered to cover organisational issues linked to the tournament. The workshop at Paris’s Pullman Hotel Tour Eiffel provides detailed information on a panoply of subjects for the participating countries: match organisation, transport, logistics, accommodation, safety and security, disciplinary matters and integrity, as well as marketing, communications and media.
It’s but one of the events taking place in France today as ten French cities gear up to host EURO2016, which will culminate with the final at the Stade de France in Paris. English, German, Swiss and Belgian fans are expected to travel in large numbers to the tournament. In total, the event is expected to draw 2.5 million fans to the stadiums, including 1 million foreign visitors. EURO2012, co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland, attracted just 1.4 million fans.
The projected influx of foreign fans is causing a headache for both organisers and French security services. They are aware of the heightened security concerns after terrorists killed 130 people last November in the French capital. The Stade de France was among the terrorists’ targets as France and Germany were playing a prestigious friendly international. During the match a loud blast was audible inside the stadium, but attackers failed to gain entry to terraces.
Ever since the atrocities on 13 November 2015 France has maintained a national state of emergency, which will continue until May at least. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve immediately announced extra security measures for the tournament’s matches, including video surveillance and private security agents – on top of the 120,000 police and soldiers that have already been deployed to safeguard France.
Euro 2016 organisers will deploy an average of 900 security personnel per match and 10,000 over the whole tournament. UEFA and the local organisers are also drawing up anti-terror contingency plans for a worst-case scenario.
“If there is a security issue, we would need to play the match without fans,” EURO2016 tournament director Martin Kallen told the BBC. “It is possible that matches would be postponed or played later. But today there are no signs of any extreme threats or alarming issues.”
Fan zones may also be vulnerable, but local authorities have pledged to go forward with organizing public viewing events. On March 22, local mayors will meet with the French government and UEFA to discuss sharing the costs of the security operation around fan zones. Video surveillance and checks will be in place with no bags allowed to enter the fan zones.
Notwithstanding the security concerns, France is also hoping for a positive legacy from the tournament. French FA president Noel Le Graet expressed his confidence in ‘Les Bleus’ to play an excellent tournament.
“What would be a successful EURO?” said Le Graet to French sports daily L’Equipe. “I replied that it would be [to finish] at least among the last four. But the goal is to win, obviously. We have players in the top European clubs in our current team. They are almost all succeeding in extraordinary ways. I’m not jealous of any other team.”
The FFF has a distinct footballing target with EURO2016 in producing the next generation of French football stars. Football doesn’t enjoy sole dominion in France as both basketball and handball challenge its popularity. The FFF wants to mirror this fruitful collaborative approach towards grassroots football by popularizing the game. They aim for an increase of 15% of members from 2.2 million to about 2.5 million by 2018 by investing €37 million to cement a grassroots legacy.
At domestic level, the French Ligue LFP seeks to upgrade the fan experience in stadia across France after the tournament with the aim of catching up with the Premier League, La Liga and the Bundesliga, Europe’s prime football leagues.
Euro2016 kicks off on June 10 with France playing Albania at the Stade de France. Les Bleus will be hoping that a good start can galvanize their tournament. Germany and Spain, the defending champions, are the red hot favorites for the tournament, but don’t rule out Belgium as dark horses. Under the guidance of coach Marc Wilmots, Belgium’s golden generation is looking to deliver silverware.
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