Congress given warm welcome to Paris

French minister of sport Chantal Jouanno welcomed UEFA and delegates from its 53 member national associations to Paris as the XXXV Ordinary UEFA Congress got under way on Tuesday morning.

As sun streamed through the glass roof of the Grand Palais, French football fittingly shared the spotlight as Congress prepared for the re-election of President Michel Platini and reflected on the selection of France as host nation for UEFA EURO 2016. "You chose France to host and organise EURO 2016. You have put your trust in France and France will make this European competition a global event," Ms Jouanno said.

Ms Jouanno also praised Mr Platini for giving impetus to a "European sports model. A model centred on sport, a model of values and ethics. For all of you here football is the first and only element that guides your actions. For you all, and this is the message of Michel Platini, football is a game before being a product, a sport before being a market and that money is at the service of football and not the other way round."

Addressing the UEFA President, she added: "I know your involvement in the promotion of financial fair play, the fight against corruption, violence and racism, and the importance of protecting young players. Without this continued engagement from UEFA in favour of sporting integrity the soul of football itself would be threatened."

Fernand Duchaussoy, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), then took to the stage and said Mr Platini had "the confidence of French football" as he embarks on his second term at the head of European football's governing body. "Like he used to do on the pitch, Mr Platini knows, strategically, to look far ahead, to anticipate everything while scoring decisive goals. Goals that will count for the future of our football."

UEFA's past too, Mr Duchaussoy pointed out, has always been closely connected to French football, with Paris at its heart. "UEFA can trace part of its roots here," he said. From Henri Delaunay to former UEFA president Jacques Georges, French football has long been at the forefront of the European game. Delaunay, said Mr Duchaussoy, "was part of the closed circle of visionaries who imagined creating a confederation devoted to organising and developing football at a continental level. From there UEFA was born."

Delaunay became UEFA's first general secretary in June 1954 and the UEFA European Football Championship trophy still bears his name. Indeed the first UEFA European Championship in 1960 was held on French soil. At club level, Mr Duchaussoy stressed, the European Champion Clubs' Cup, forerunner to the UEFA Champions League, was brought into being by the drive of two L'Equipe journalists, Gabriel Hanot and Jacques Ferran.

FIFA President Joseph S Blatter also addressed Congress and underlined the deep links the world governing body has with Paris. FIFA was formed here in 1904 and the European game has continued to play a leading role in football's development ever since. "The presence of European football in FIFA's competitions is very strong," he said. "It's normal because the development of football started in the continent and we thank this continent for giving their know-how for the development of football across the world today."