The preparations in the stadiums selected for the UEFA European Under 17 Championship 2009 in Germany advance. In November 2008, the German Football Association (DFB), the UEFA and TV station Eurosport completed their first on-site inspection with a visit to Magdeburg, where the final will be played.
"In each of the host cities we feel the will to turn the European Under 17 Championship into a festival of football - as we have already experienced with many other events in this region", said DFB director Helmut Sandrock.
The inspection was done by delegates from media as well as tournament organising departements. In the course of five days, the stadiums in Dessau-Roßlau, Erfurt, Gera, Gotha, Grimma, Jena, Magdeburg, Makranstädt, Meuselwitz, Sandersdorf, Taucha and Torgau were inspected. Representatives of the cities as well as the stadiums were also on-site.
Final tournament from May 6th - 18th 2009
"We are highly impressed by the twelve host cities. The commitment of our partners of the cities, stadiums as well as regional associations underlines the significance of the tournament. All over, we are on schedule with regard to the preparations", adds Sandrock.
The on-site inspection focussed on area and space management with regard to the media, TV transmission and the championship supporting programme as well as catering, security, traffic and ticketing in the course of a European championship. These fields often exceed the dimensions during the national league season. In addition, the training as well as accommodation venues for the teams were inspected.
The European Under 17 Championship takes place in the Federal States of Thuringia, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt from May 6th - 18th 2009. The final tournament starts with two groups of four teams. The group winner as well as the runner-up advance to the semi-finals. The final takes place in Magdeburg on May, 18th . The drawing for the final tournament takes place in Leipzig on April, 3rd .
