The Vienna countdown clock is inaugurated by
Flix (left) and his twin mascot Trix (¿Getty Images)
UEFA EURO 2008T host cities Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck,
Zurich, Basle and Geneva unveiled their official Countdown Clocks exactly
one year before the tournament kicks off.
Countdowns
The digital clocks in the eight cities will count down the time remaining
before the opening whistle of UEFA EURO 2008T at 18.00 CET on 7 June 2008
at Basle's St. Jakob-Park stadium. Host city Klagenfurt will unveil its
Countdown Clock on Sunday and Swiss capital Berne will follow after that.
Vienna
In Vienna, Friedrich Stickler, president of the Austrian Football Federation,
unveiled the clock in Town Hall Square, accompanied by the host city's
deputy mayor, Grete Laska. Stickler said: "From today it's only 366
days and we're delighted at the prospect that thousands of football fans
will be standing here in one year's time to watch the opening match."
Zurich
In Zurich the ceremony took place inside the main train station. Mayor
Elmar Ledergerber took possession of the six-metre-high clock from Christian
Mutschler, the Swiss tournament director. Mutschler said: "More than
300,000 people walk through the station hall every day so I can't imagine
a better place to put this clock."
Salzburg
Salzburg has also placed its Countdown Clock in the main train station.
Wolfgang Weiss, co-ordinator for Host City Salzburg, said he was delighted
with the location. "Salzburg's main station is a very attractive
and central location in the city,' he said. "That means many people
will have the pleasure of seeing this clock."
Geneva
Geneva's digital timepiece was unveiled on the Rue du Mont Blanc, next
to the train station, by state councillor Mark Muller. He confirmed that
preparations for the championship were well on track. The unveiling coincided
with the launch of the city's UEFA EURO 2008T homepage, www.geneve.ch/euro2008,
which offers comprehensive information on the Swiss match venue in the
country's French-speaking region.
Innsbruck
In Innsbruck, Austria's UEFA EURO 2008T tournament director Christian
Schmolzer handed over the Countdown Clock to Deputy Mayor Dr Christoph
Platzgummer in front of the City Hall. Schmolzer pointed out the international
importance of the tournament: "In one year's time Austria and Switzerland
will be at the centre of world attention and we should be aware of that
every day."
Basle
Basle has put up two Countdown Clocks because it is divided into two districts,
Basle-Town and Basle-Country. Swiss Football Association president Ralph
M. Zloczower and Hanspeter Weisshaupt, delegate of both Basle cantons
and member of the Euro 2008 SA Board, unveiled the first Countdown Clock
on the city's Centralbahnplatz square. The presentation of the second
clock followed in Liestal. Zloczower said: "The Countdown Clocks
ensure that all cities can keep in step as they look forward to UEFA EURO
2008T. I can report that all our projects are moving forward. We're on
schedule and the preparations are progressing excellently, so that we
can look forward to UEFA EURO 2008T with confidence."
