Draw creates 2,000 smiles in Bordeaux

A draw in Bordeaux on Friday brought a thrill for 2,000 underprivileged children aged eight to 16, who were assigned tickets for UEFA EURO 2016 games courtesy of the UEFA Foundation for Children

The draw was conducted with the help of Bordeaux Métropole president Alain Juppé, regional prefect Pierre Dartout, Albert Gemmrich – representing French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët – Jean-Louis Triaud, president of Girondins de Bordeaux, and city EURO ambassadors Alain Giresse and Emmanuelle Grizot, with tickets distributed through 55 local community organisations.

"We are going to go and see Austria v Hungary on 14 June," beamed a representative of a community centre in the suburb of Begles. "Most of our children have never been to the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, so to get the chance to go for a EURO match is a fantastic opportunity."

Some 500 tickets were apportioned for each of the four group stage matches to be played in the city: Wales v Slovakia on 11 June, Austria v Hungary on 14, Belgium v Republic of Ireland on 18 June and Croatia v Spain on 21 June. The special guests will be certain of unforgettable experiences, with transport, a post-match snack and a free gift all laid on at the matches.

To make the draw even more exciting for the children in attendance, UEFA EURO 2016 mascot Super Victor dropped in for Friday's ceremony, which coincided with the Henri Delaunay trophy taking a tour of the city. Delegates were allowed to look at the silverware at the ceremony but not to touch – no one will lay an ungloved hand on it now until the final. Disappointing for some, maybe, but less so for Giresse, who got his hands on it with France as a EURO winner in 1984.