The city of Nice organized a festive and symbolic day on the Quai des États-Unis on Friday, June 12th, exactly 365 days before the opening of Euro 2016.
Several sports activities were offered to children, allowing them to practice precision shooting or discover “bubble soccer,” all under the watchful eyes of the City of Nice ambassador, Daniel Bravo.
The countdown officially started in Nice, exactly one year to the day before the opening match of Euro 2016.
On this occasion, the students of the Port and Nikaia schools were able to enjoy the events before having a chance to chat for a few minutes with the deputy-mayor, Christian Estrosi.
The president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis was handed the UEFA “golden ticket” by Daniel Bravo before taking the microphone to emphasize the significance for a city like Nice to host the third-largest global sporting event.
“Knowing that the city will host four matches at the Allianz Riviera is a great pride. We had the courage to embark on our new arena. It’s a beautiful environment we find ourselves in. Everything is ready to host such a competition.”
A focus on Euro 2016
Nice is the first of the ten host cities to deliver a new-generation stadium configured for Euro 2016. This achievement allows it to use the UEFA allocation (€2 million) for the renovation of football facilities. Seven football clubs will benefit from new fields. In 2016, the two pitches at lower Lauvette and the Tripodes stadium will be renovated.
While hosting such an event brings significant economic benefits, there is also an expectation of social momentum. The host cities are given the opportunity to invite 2,000 children in precarious situations (500 seats per match for those aged 8-16). This initiative is supported by an animation policy that will enable the city to carry out activities with local community actors.
