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The city of Salzburg, nestled on the edge of the northern Alps and in the heart of Aus-tria, is one of the world's most beautiful cultural venues. As an official Host City, it will host three of the 31 matches during the UEFA EURO 2008TM from June 7 to 29, 2008: the national teams from Russia, Greece, Spain and Sweden will contend for victory in Salzburg. In the midst of an architecturally enchanting historical city center, Salzburg – the Stage of the World – promises to be "a virtual football festival for Europe".
"Salz" (salt), the "white gold", gave the city its name: the glorious city of Salzburg, rich in tra-dition, has established itself as a modern cultural center in the heart of Europe in the 21st century. The Old City, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, has an unmistaka-ble silhouette: Hohensalzburg Fortress, the baroque Cathedral, the Franciscan and Collegiate Churches in front of the Mönchsberg and the mighty, legendary Untersberg in the distance. This picturesque scenery will accompany and fascinate football fans from around the world during the UEFA EURO 2008TM. The high art of football will ennoble Salzburg in front of an impressive backdrop.
Salzburg – the Stage of the World
Over 4,000 cultural events are held in Salzburg each year. The city achieved international fame through the Salzburg Festival, one of Europe's top-class music festivals, transforming the city into a stage with illustrious actors and celebrities year after year. The most often pho-tographed buildings include Mozart's Birthplace in the city's "shopping mall" – the Getreide-gasse – and the Mozart Residence on Markart Square. The charm of the city's most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, attracts thousands of visitors and music fans to the city each year: Mozart Week rings in the new culture year in January and his music dominates the Palace Concerts, Fortress Concerts and the Easter and Whitsun Festivals.
Music and football united with "playful" ease
A harmonious synergy between sports and culture is created in Salzburg: UEFA's Host City logo for Salzburg reflects the omnipresence of music, culture and Mozart but the city of Salz-burg has also felt comfortable hosting large-scale sports events winning international acclaim for many years. "The UEFA EURO 2008 TM will put Salzburg in the spotlight for the biggest sports event ever held in the city“, remarks Bert Brugger, Managing Director of Tourismus Salzburg GmbH (TSG). "We have repeatedly demonstrated our experience and professional approach in organizing and coordinating large-scale events such as the UCI World Cycling Championship - Road in 2006. We will produce all our trumps as a seasoned host for the 2008 European Football Championship.“
The infrastructure for the UEFA EURO 2008 TM
The Host City Salzburg will host three group matches at the football stadium in Wals-Siezenheim just outside the gates of the city near Klessheim Palace.
Greece, the defending champion, will play against Sweden on June 10, 2008, Greece against Russia on June 14, 2008 and Greece against Spain on June 18, 2008. Roughly 15,000 fans are expected to travel to Salzburg per match and nation. The football stadium has 30,000 seats, several thousand parking spaces, a separate motorway exit and outstanding public transport connections. Salzburg's W. A. Mozart airport can be reached in a few minutes via the motorway.
Fan zone in front of a magnificent architectural backdrop
An additional 25,000 football fans will be able to follow the games in Austria and Switzerland on the city's most beautiful squares with a sensational atmosphere under the Mozart Monu-ment's watchful eyes. A sweeping fan zone will be set up around the Cathedral on Residence, Mozart and Chapter Square. The close proximity to countless bars, restaurants and coffeehouses will facilitate a "rapid exchange" before and after the games are broadcast. The fan zone in the center of Salzburg's Old City will be open daily from June 7 to 29, 2008, 2:00 to 11:00 p.m. with free admission.
The public viewing centers will be on Residence Square and Chapter Square, boasting three video walls measuring over forty square meters, a stage, a food court around Residence Fountain and pagodas for the sponsors.
Chapter Square will cater to the needs of football fans of all ages: the "Family Park“ will have a video wall offering entertainment starting at 2:00 p.m. plus a show and entertainment pro-gram for the whole family.
Traffic and safety in Salzburg
True to the "Follow your team“ maxim, the fanbase in Salzburg will come from Sweden, Spain, Greece and Russia. Salzburg Airport will demonstrate its role as a hub and focal traffic point in the heart of Europe. "The rush at the airport will be dealt with professionally, both in terms of security and logistics“, Bert Brugger explains with confidence. "A number of pas-sengers will also land in Munich, Innsbruck and Linz.“ Many Greek fans living in Germany will come to Salzburg by car. Some 10,000 parking spaces will be available in the city of Salz-burg. Security for football fans will be provided by the police in close collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior. "We attach great importance to ensuring that things run smoothly and harmoniously during the European Football Championship in Salzburg“, adds Bert Brugger. "We will take all possible scenarios into account to be well-prepared for this mega sports event. We want everyone involved to have a positive recollection of Salzburg after the Euro-pean Championship is over: as a city that creates an unforgettable symbiosis between sports, culture and hospitality.“
Salzburg's international advertising
The international networking and advertising prior to the UEFA EURO 2008TM is progressing on several levels. Host City coordinator Wolfgang Weiss is striving for a close collaboration between the national football clubs, embassies and foreign trade agencies. Tourist activities are being adapted to the countries of origin. "All important information and documentation for the UEFA EURO 2008 TM will be available in Spanish, Russian, Greek and Swedish“, explains Bert Brugger. "Although Sweden, Greece and Russia are not our biggest tourist markets, a large number of Spaniards spend their holidays in Salzburg. With 28,000 arrivals in 2006, Spain ranked sixth among the countries of origin.“
Salzburg – a city for football fans and Everyman
City tourists and football fans are certain to have a visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress, a tour of Mozart's Birthplace and a stroll through Getreidegasse and the Mirabell Gardens at the top of their must-see list. A number of museums such as the Museum of Modern Art on the Mönchsberg or the new Salzburg Museum offer a high standard of cultural diversity. Visitors will encounter attractions at every corner during a walk through the city: Mirabell Palace with its wonderful gardens, Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart Square, St. Peter's Cemetery as well as countless churches and romantic squares. Anyone strolling through the narrow streets, ar-cades and passages is likely to succumb to the baroque city's unforgettable charm. Culture buffs, football fans and gourmets alike will find just what they're looking for between the city's mountains, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg.
"But the culinary aspects also get their due“, explains Bert Brugger. "Salzburg has something for everyone - from the traditional coffeehouses in the Old City, to trendy bars, and four ex-traordinary private breweries with their charming beer gardens – earning the city the sobriquet "Austria's secret beer capital."
A multitude of added attractions will also be offered during the UEFA EURO 2008 TM. A pot-pourri of national pop stars, local bands and traditional alpine customs will provide for a spec-tacular opening festival and a diversified social program during the games. A three-week art zone along the Salzach featuring water, light and music by local composers will be offered under the title "Austria keeps the ball rolling“. A considerable number of events will be held by cultural institutes and restaurants.
The important information at a glance
The European Football Championship games in Salzburg
June 10, 2008, 8:45 p.m. Greece – Sweden
June 14, 2008, 8:45 p.m. Greece – Russia
June 18, 2008, 8:45 p.m. Greece – Spain
Free privileges with the Salzburg Card
The Salzburg Card provides free, single admission to all of the city's attractions, free use of public transport and attractive discounts for cultural events and at many excursion destina-tions. The Salzburg Card is available for 24, 48 or 72 hours starting at 21 euros.
2008 Salzburg Football Package
2 nights with a buffet breakfast at a 3 or 4-star hotel including the 48-hour Salzburg Card. Price: from 159 euros per person.
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