Cologne as a “hub for fans”: The Euro Week starts with a show kick with celebrities
Loud cheers echo through the street football base when the “Team Cologne” scores a goal. There are enough of them. And that in just 20 minutes of playing time. Above all, the Paralympic athlete Felix Streng and journalist and former soccer player Shary Reeves attack again and again and make goalkeeper Ursula Holl from the “Team Euro 2024” sweat. But also the managing director of 1. FC Cologne, Alexander Wehrle, who guards the gate of the “Team Cologne”, has a lot to do when Philipp Lahm or the former German soccer player Celia ašić dribble their way free and pull away. Before the game, Lahm, who is the tournament director of Uefa Euro 2024, when asked how fit he was, joked: “Please don’t expect too much from me.” In the end, it is five to three for the “Team Cologne”.
At least four European Championship games will take place in Cologne
The kick-off event is part of the Euro Week in Cologne. There are ten venues for the 2024 European Championship (June 14th to July 14th) in Germany. Andrea Milz, the NRW State Secretary for Sport says: “We are of course very proud because we have four venues.” In addition to Cologne, the European Championship games in NRW will be held in Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen. At least four encounters take place in Cologne.
A dedicated sports office was set up for Uefa Euro 2024. According to the managing director of the Cologne sports facilities, Lutz Wingerath, around 15 to 20 people work here, plus supporters. The aim is to become a “hub for fans” because Cologne is in the heart of Europe and the distances to the countries that are active in the European Championship are short. Around three to four million fans are expected. Sports department manager Gregor Timmer explains: “We assume that every game is sold out”.
Well-known celebrities among the guests
Only a few fans follow the show game in Lukas Podolski’s street football base, but numerous well-known guests. Both on and off the field. The moderators Sebastian Hellmann and Tom Bartels comment on the match. Reiner Calmund and the former Cologne cult goalkeeper Toni Schumacher give a half-time analysis for the best. Mayor Henriette Reker is of course also there. All three get a jersey as a gift, as well as Milz and Wehrle. “We want to be an excellent host again,” says Reker. Because the enthusiasm for sport is not only reflected in the fans, but also in the city. Cologne is cosmopolitan and warm. You would feel exactly this enthusiasm in the city, said Markus Stenger, Managing Director of Euro 2024, at the introduction. He called the cathedral city a “great location”.
Andrea Milz says that there are two criteria for this EM. On the one hand, sustainability is becoming more and more important in sport too. Furthermore, they want to introduce young people to football. Bernd Neuendorf, President of the Mittelrhein Football Association (FVM), also mentions this as a goal: “Getting out of the tournament with significantly more people who are interested in football”.
The last major tournament in the Cologne War 2006
The last time a major international tournament was held in Cologne was the 2006 World Cup. The last European championship in Germany in 1988. That is “half a generation”, says Neuendorf. If not a whole.
Celia Šašić says of Uefa Euro 2024: “This is an opportunity to do something in this society.” “Everyone is warmly welcomed.” Philipp Lahm also sees this aspect: “Football has the power to connect people. Not just in professional football. ”The motto of the European Championship is a good approach:“ United by football – in the heart of Europe ”.