14 May 2008

GENEVA - The organisers of June's European Championship have taken possession of the eight stadiums that will be used for the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

With 25 days to go, the host cities and clubs handed over control of the match venues Monday and Tuesday to Euro 2008 SA, the tournament holding company created by UEFA.

''The elaborate stadium installations are the last big milestone. Then we'll be ready to go,'' Euro 2008 chief operating officer Martin Kallen said.

More than CHF 14 million is being spent just on the finishing touches to the Stade de Geneve, which will host three matches involving Group A teams Czech Republic, Portugal and Turkey. The stadium is getting a second giant screen, security fences, more space for broadcasters and a new media centre.

Adapting Austria's four stadiums in Vienna, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt and Salzburg is costing federal, provincial and municipal governments a total of EUR 143 million.

Euro 2008 begins on 7 June when Switzerland face the Czechs in Basel. The final is in Vienna on 29 June.

[AP / Expatica]

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