The most awaited soccer event, after FIFA World Cup, Euro 2016 may be far away from now, but its preparation timings are even more important at the moment. France is the host of coming mega Euro event, and as expected, its groundings are running smoothly than expected, perhaps France Football Federation’s president Noël Le Graët has expressed his satisfaction over the stadiums which are being renovated for hosting some of the most entertaining soccer events. The news is more important in the eyes of UEFA’s demand to inform it about the progress of at least nine stadiums by its Executive Committee’s meet which is scheduled to happen on January 24 next year. It is the third time when France is hosting Europeans most popular soccer finals, earlier; it has hosted it in 1984 and back in 1960. According to Noël Le Graët, there are four new stadiums that are being building up in Lille, Lyon, Nice, and Bordeaux, while four other stadiums need upgrading. He also mentioned about Stade de France, the only stadium which needs no renovation work.
So, statistically, there are more than 50% stadiums ready or will be ready by their fixed dates. Among all, Lyon will have the most costly budget to upgrade its seating capacity from 41000 spectators to 58000, and it is expected to be completed by 2015-16 season. Though, there is a delay for this one, but this is all coz of financial conditions since Lyon needs around 381 million euros investment. But, no worry, as stated by Noël Le Graët, coz he believes there will be no pending work by then for sure. Financially, there is an equal participation from France’s government. According to Sports Minister Valerie Fourneyron, there will be 160 million euro aid from government in redesigning each and every stadium.
As far the financial burden of the whole event is concerned, UEFA President Michel Platini has already said that UEFA will incur all the event’s cost except stadium’s renovation and security, which is France authority’s responsibility. Platini is the same former player who scored a record nine goals in 1984 hosted EURO cup. Anyways, France has always been a wonderful host for all the mega sport’s events it held in the recent past, including 2007 Rugby World Cup, and 1998 FIFA World Cup. For now, all eyes are on next meet of Executive Committee early next year.