Anticipation rises for Athens final
Monday, February 5, 2007
Article summary
Hellenic Football Federation president Vassilis Gagatsis is anticipating a "terrific occasion" when the UEFA Champions League final comes to Athens.
Article body
Hellenic Football Federation president Vassilis Gagatsis said Athens is looking forward to having the eyes of the sporting world on the Greek capital once more for the 2007 UEFA Champions League final after ticket sales were launched.
Eyes of the world
Gagatsis was one of several distinguished guests present for a special ceremony at Maroussi Town Hall - the municipality where the Olympic Stadium is located - for the unveiling of the ticketing programme today and the commencement of sales via uefa.com. "In August 2004 the planet turned its eyes to Greece for the Olympic Games and the whole world will once again focus on our country and capital for the UEFA Champions League final," said Gagatsis.
'Terrific occasion'
He also revealed that 9,000 of the 63,800 seats tickets have been made available to the Greek and international public. "We have reserved 15 per cent of the total number of tickets for Greek [and neutral] supporters to apply for - this is the first time that such a high proportion has been made available. We are anticipating an exciting match, a terrific occasion and, when the lights are switched off, we hope to be satisfied with the way we have organised the final."
Olympian heights
To mark the start of ticket sales, Greek UEFA Executive Committee member Marios N Lefkaritis presented Maroussi mayor Giorgios Patoulis with the first one - albeit a symbolic giant-sized version. "On 23 May the eyes of the world will be focusing on our same Olympic Stadium for the 2007 UEFA Champions League final which hosted the 2004 Olympic Games so wonderfully well," said Patoulis. "It is a fantastic venue fit for such a great event and we hope to put an even broader smile on the faces of people who witnessed the Olympics here three years ago."
Milan memories
The match will be the first European final in the city since the venue was rebuilt for Olympics, although the old stadium provided the backdrop to the UEFA Champions League final of 1993/94, when AC Milan beat FC Barcelona 4-0. If you want a chance of being there, then click here to apply for the ballot, which will take place after general sales end on 19 February.
