Toulouse marks one year until EURO 2016 kick-off
Sunday, June 14, 2015
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Toulouse city ambassador Fabien Barthez and official mascot Super Victor helped mark one year to go until the first UEFA EURO 2016 match in the Pink City.
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Less than a year from now the first of four UEFA EURO 2016 matches will be played at the Stadium de Toulouse. If anyone had forgotten, the festive atmosphere around the Pink City this weekend served as the perfect reminder.
With local ambassador Fabien Barthez and official tournament mascot Super Victor both present at Saturday's countdown event, the host city of Toulouse put on a show to reiterate its status as one of the ten venues for UEFA EURO 2016.
Encouraged by Toulouse FC stadium announcer Jacques Bréda, the public at Place Saint-Georges were invited to meet Super Victor or test their football knowledge in a quiz about football in Toulouse which ended with prizes for everyone – including two tickets for the south-west city's opening fixture on 13 June 2016.
The colour and cacophony extended to the majestic Place du Capitole, complete with UEFA EURO 2016 branding and footballs galore – and site of a treasure hunt and various games for children.
The rain had started falling when Toulouse mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc, accompanied by former Toulouse trainee – and later France goalkeeper – Barthez, inaugurated a UEFA EURO 2016 sculpture next to the Place Charles de Gaulle. "This is a magical moment, I feel at home here in Toulouse," said Barthez, with Toulouse FC coach Dominique Arribagé at his side."
"Sport has always been of major importance for Toulouse," mayor Moudenc added, before symbolically receiving the first official ticket from Barthez. The festive ceremony concluded with a concert from Duos D'Enfer at the Place du Capitole.