Nancy Faeser Federal Minister of the Interior and Community of Germany wishes for a summer fairy tale 203 days before the opening

SPORTS

Nancy Faeser Federal Minister of the Interior and Community of Germany wishes

for a "Ein Sommermärchen" in Düsseldorf

(referring to the Football World Cup 2006)

203 days before the opening

Article in German

Burkhard Hintzsche, City Director of the state capital Düsseldorf, Federal Minister of the Interior and Sports Minister Nancy Faeser, EURO ambassador Martina Voss-Tecklenburg © Landeshauptstadt Düsseldorf/Melanie Zanin

Düsseldorf, 25 November 2023: It was snowing in the Merkur Arena when the guests entered the lounge of honour. But then their anticipation and zest for action about the planning status of the UEFA EURO in Düsseldorf lit up the room.

203 days before the opening

Federal Minister of the Interior and Sports Minister Nancy Faeser wanted to know the status of the UEFA EURO 2024 preparations in Düsseldorf. Düsseldorf's EURO ambassador Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was also present. Overall, there was an air of great anticipation and drive. Minister Nancy Faeser said that she was hoping for a "summer fairytale" in Düsseldorf.

In the course of social cohesion, a joyful major sporting event is now needed

Düsseldorf will host 20 UEFA EURO 2024 matches. The city of Düsseldorf describes this as a huge challenge. In the city, 30 days are required for this. Nancy Faeser is currently visiting all German member cities. In her speech, she said that she was extremely impressed by the state of preparations in Düsseldorf. She hoped that, in addition to the major sporting event, it would be a moment for people to come together. She referred to the Ukraine and the after-effects on the people here, such as price controls, and now since the Hamas attack on 7 October. What is needed now would be a joyful major sporting event as part of social cohesion.

The greatest opportunity for integration

EURO ambassador Martina Voss-Tecklenburg spoke of how her heart would open when she thought of the fans walking from the Rhine to the Merkur Arena. The sporting event would be the greatest opportunity for integration that could be created.

According to Burkhard Hintzsche, City Director of the state capital Düsseldorf, a safety manual had been published, which would set an example. Inclusion and sustainability would be firmly anchored in this, and a transfer from the old town to the Merkur Arena was planned. And there would be plans to illuminate the theatre.