UEFA representatives visit Bucharest to check preparations for EURO 2020

UEFA representatives have paid their third visit to Bucharest to find out about the latest developments in Romania's preparations for hosting EURO 2020.

More than 70 UEFA specialists inspected, November 5-8, 16 facilities in Bucharest that are in the organisational plan: two airports, the North Railway Station, hotels, training facilities, public markets, and the National Arena, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) reports.

Together with the local organisers from the Bucharest City Hall and with the intermediary of the Romanian Football Federation, the UEFA representatives discussed thoroughly the plans of 18 EURO 2020 projects including stadium management, spectators' access, match ceremonies, accommodation facilities, safety and security of teams and viewers, trade regime, media facilities, engagement of volunteers and others.

Concerning the transport of spectators, UEFA noted that the local administration has initiated the mobility plan and the first mass transit buses of the new EURO 2020 fleet arrived in Bucharest. That will be the main mode of transport from the airport to downtown Bucharest, while any connection to the railway from Otopeni Airport to the North Railway Station would be complementary. UEFA will also monitor the commitments to modernise road infrastructure and optimise mass transit undertaken by the Bucharest City Hall.

Regarding air transport, UEFA representatives checked the facilities of the two airports, Henri Coanda and Aurel Vlaicu, and discussions with the airport administration took place in several meetings based on a 64-member framework document pages containing the requirements for EURO 2020.

The most detailed inspection was of the National Arena, the stadium where all the four games hosted by Bucharest will be played. UEFA and City Hall specialists work intensively on the plan to adapt and upgrade the arena infrastructure to meet the requirements of a European championship. UEFA will take over the management of the stadium in May 2020 and all the specifications must be met by then, says FRF.

The detailed conclusions of the UEFA visit and follow-up reports will be forwarded to Bucharest in the next period. The upcoming inspection will take place in the spring of 2019.

The new stadiums planned to be inaugurated in Bucharest were not the subject of the UEFA visit. These facilities are part of the guarantees provided by the Romanian government for Romania to be a joint host of EURO 2020 in Bucharest. The new arenas will be included in the schedule of next UEFA visits, when their build-up will be relevant for an inspection. The only exception was the Arcul de Triumf stadium, which has just started modernisation and UEFA saw the start of the project under which the stadium becomes training ground for the EURO 2020 participants.

Florin Sari, manager of the local EURO 2020 organisation body, said: "It was a complex visit on many levels. The UEFA guests had over 100 Romanian interlocutors with whom they discussed in detail the plans for the organisation of EURO 2020 in Bucharest. Preparations are progressing every day, and co-operation with UEFA is permanent, not just during work visits. We look forward to, but also plan, the beginning of the sale of tickets for the EURO 2020 matches in Bucharest. The first sale period will be in the following summer for the June 14, 18, 22 and 29, 2020 matches to be hosted by the National Arena." AGERPRES (RO - author: Mihai Tenea, editor: Vlad Constantinescu; EN - author: Corneliu-Aurelian Colceriu, editor: Adina Panaitescu)