The winner's trophy of the 2024 European Football Championship (UEFA Euro 2024) stands in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
© dpa
The Berlin Senate expects millions of people to be in the city for the European Football Championship in Germany.
"About 2.5 million male and female visitors are expected in Berlin," Senator for Sports Iris Spranger (SPD) said on Monday at the press conference "One year to Final" about twelve months before the final of the European Football Championship in Berlin on July 14, 2024. A total of six games of the tournament will be played at the Berlin Olympic Stadium: the final, three group matches, a round of 16 and a quarterfinal.
"We expect revenue, of course. Five out of six games are on weekends," Spranger said. "That's when we expect to have a high volume of visitors. That's great for the city, for the hotels, the restaurant industry and the tourist attractions." Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) said: "Berlin can host major sporting events. We have proven that, especially with the Special Olympics World Games." Celebrations away from the stadium are to take place on Platz der Republik in front of the Reichstag building and at the Fan Mile near the Brandenburg Gate. "We will turn the Brandenburg Gate into the biggest football goal in Europe," said Moritz van Dülmen, managing director of Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH. Artificial turf laid in front of the gate will create a special atmosphere.
Wegner hopes for a great football festival that can also inspire the German team. "We want it to be a European Championship for all Berliners, where we take the people with us, where we create an atmosphere that motivates us," the CDU politician said. The state is providing 61.1 million euros for the European Championship. Special attention is to be paid to the issue of sustainability. "We are putting a clear focus on public transport and cycling," said Spranger. For example, around 2,000 parking spaces for bicycles will be available at the Olympic Stadium. "We will consistently use reusable tableware in the fan zone. That's a requirement of ours. And, of course, we will hand out water free of charge."