Salzburg catering for residents and fans

Salzburg officials have confirmed a range of initiatives to ensure that UEFA EURO 2008™ runs smoothly in the Austrian city.

Two-year plan
Preparations for the tournament have been in motion for the past two years among the city's administration to meet the needs of the thousands of supporters who will visit the city in June, as well as ensuring that everyday lives of residents are not disrupted. "Twenty workers will be on hand constantly cleaning the Old Town four times a day during the European Championship," said Salzburg magistrate director Hans Jörg Bachmaier. "All told there will be 10,000 overtime hours amassed." Bachmaier also said that 23 of the 32 offices within the city's administration are directly or indirectly affected by the tournament and its planning.

Salzburg Hotels

Service provision
Other services include an extended opening of the Resident Service department until 21.00 local time, extra toilet facilities and sign-posting, and a central telephone service. Mayor Heinz Schaden explained: "We are striving for a peaceful football festival, one which hinders the everyday life of the city's residents as little as possible."

'On course'
The key to implementing the schemes, says coordinator of Salzburg, Wolfgang Weiss, has been efficient communication with the city's administration. "Everything is on course. We talk regularly so there are no delays," he said. The same goes for the work on the official UEFA Fan Zone, which is to be erected by 29 May, with the zone's technical issues set to be completed in time for a trouble-free opening on 7 June.