Live from Euro 2004
Portugal set for spotlight
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| Gilberto Madail, President of the Portuguese football federation puts the European trophy on display during the draw ceremony of the Euro 2004 football Championship final, 30 November 2003 in Lisbon.The continental competition will be hosted by Portugal from 12 June to 05 July 2004. AFP PHOTO LLUIS GENE |
Portugal is all set to host the biggest sports spectacle in its history as the top 16 European teams packed with globally-known stars vie for continental supremacy in football in the Euro 2004 finals which begin Saturday.
For the next three weeks the focus of football fans across the globe will be on the eight Portuguese cities where the tournament, the third-biggest sporting event in terms of television audiences after the Olympics and the World Cup, will be played.
"Portugal is living a highly significant moment," said Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madail.
"Aside from those who are visiting us for the event, there are millions around the world who are absorbing information about Euro 2004. In terms of international projection we have already won."
More than 100 television stations have bought the rights to transmit matches and the Portuguese government expects total viewership around the world for games will reach more than eight billion people.
Football fever
As the kick-off to the event nears, Euro fever has increased in Portugal, a football-mad nation of just over 10 million.
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| Portuguese fans cheer their national team during the Portugal vs Lithuania friendly football game 05 June 2004 in Setubal, South of Lisbon. Portugal will play Greece next 12 June in the opening match of the Euro 2004. AFP PHOTO FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT |
Taxi cabs began flying Portuguese flags from their windows over the past week and the red, green and yellow-coloured cloth is being hung from growing numbers of windows.
"The support of the public gives us greater confidence, it helps when we all row in the same direction," said Portugal defender Rui Jorge.
Enthusiam for the event is also reflected in ticket sales.
Officials say about 95 percent of the 1.2 million tickets have been sold so far, slightly more than the total number sold during Euro 2000 held jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands.
The aim is to protect the finals against unruly fans as well as possible terror attacks, a risk which became more real following the train bombings in neighbouring Spain which killed 191 people in March.
But despite the security measures, many shopkeepers in cities which are hosting matches continue to fear fan violence will mar the tournament and are taking precautions.
Some shops are boarding up their windows while a number of bars in the Portuguese capital have said they will close early on match days.
"We are going to watch and pray that our private security will be able to handle any problem that might arise," said one shop owner.