UEFA EURO 2016 focus at FFF assembly

The president of EURO 2016 SAS, Jacques Lambert, attended the French Football Federation's (FFF) federal assembly to review the organisation of the UEFA EURO 2016 final round in France.

The FFF federal assembly took place at the Hôtel Méridien Etoile in Paris on Saturday, and Mr Lambert, invited to the gathering, took stock of the progress made in the organisation of the tournament which will take place in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016.

FFF president Noël Le Graët opened the assembly, and welcomed the number of delegates present, as well as the work achieved over the past year. "EURO 2016 may still be in the future, but it is already in the present for us," added the FFF general secretary Brigitte Henriques in her introductory remarks. "Our wish is that the EURO shines forth everywhere and is a festival, especially in France."

During his 20-minute address, Mr Lambert expressed confidence that the stadiums would be ready for the tournament on schedule. Five stadiums are already operational (Saint-Denis, Lille, Nice, Marseille, Saint-Etienne), two are under construction (Bordeaux and Lyon) and three are being renovated (Paris, Lens, Toulouse).

Mr Lambert also highlighted the catalogue of base camps which has been made available to the national associations, and which is accessible online for the first time. "We have selected 66 base camps spread across the whole of the country, and beyond the boundaries of the host cities," said Mr Lambert, echoing the wish of EURO 2016 SAS to involve the entire population in hosting this event.

Turning to the start of ticket reservations, Mr Lambert confirmed that these would begin for the general public "at a symbolic moment one year before the start of the tournament, on 15 June 2015". The EURO 2016 SAS president also reminded those present of the wide range of positive effects that the organisation of the world's third largest international sports competition will generate for France.

"Hosting the EURO not only involves costs for the country – it also creates an impact and brings in revenue, notably from a fiscal point of view. Given the figures involved, it would appear difficult for me to make any claim that the EURO could have a negative event for France," Mr Lambert added, before emphasising that "it is the attractiveness of France in economic terms, as well as in terms of hosting major events, that is at stake".

"It is necessary that we maintain this capacity for the years to come," he concluded.