Getting closer
The former Bayer 04 Leverkusen general manager has noted the rising anticipation levels in Klagenfurt in recent weeks. “The excitement is building daily,” he said. “The national championships are over and the UEFA Champions League final has been and gone. Now, all the interest is focused on UEFA EURO 2008™. The team training camps are getting under way and the fans are starting to arrive. All this has had an effect on local people. Many people in Carinthia already have red-white-red flags on their cars. Everything is ready for a big festival. The party will soon be starting.”

More than football
Calmund is now looking forward to sampling the atmosphere once the tournament kicks off. “I will be walking around the fan mile in Klagenfurt,” he said. “There are public events scheduled and that’s great. A UEFA European Championship is not just a footballing spectacle, it’s about so much more. It’s about variety, culture and society. There will be fantastic pictures and messages going around the world. We can all look forward to that.”

German experience
Having played a role in organising the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Calmund predicts a similarly successful EURO in Austria and Switzerland. “The stadiums may be smaller but the mood will be fantastic,” he said. “Austria and Switzerland offer a delightful atmosphere. The fans will be celebrating in the stadiums, along the fan miles and on the streets – delivering great scenes similar to those experienced two years ago in Germany.”

‘A lot of potential’
For Austria, much may hinge on their final Group B game against Germany in Vienna – but if a recent 3-0 friendly defeat by their neighbours augurs poorly for the co-hosts, Calmund feels this may be a closer game. “Austria are much stronger than people think. This team have a lot of potential. Germany are favourites but you cannot underestimate the Austrians. They can spring a few surprises as underdogs, not least because they have the home fans behind them.”

Vienna, Austria: Have fun and hurry back!

The Austrian cities hosting European Championship games are hoping soccer fans will have such a great time next month they’ll soon be back for more.

It’s part of the Alpine republic’s strategy to secure long-term economic benefits from Euro 2008, co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland, and runs for three weeks from June 7.

Officials in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt say the tournament will give them a chance to charm first-time visitors and others who may never have considered Austria a vacation destination.

"We have the opportunity and duty to present ourselves as perfect, enthusiastic and committed hosts," said Petra Stolba, head of the Austrian National Tourist Office.

"With soccer as a theme, we can target guests who haven’t been reached before."

Stolba says Austria expects nearly 2 million additional overnight stays over the course of the competition, which wraps up June 29.

"We are convinced that Euro 2008 will shine the spotlight on Austria and this advertising value is immeasurable," she said.

It’s a countrywide effort with different regional goals.

Vienna, known for its many museums and countless other cultural attractions, hopes to add sports to its portfolio and convince tourists of all ages that the city is worth a closer look.

In a similar vein, Salzburg is seeking to move beyond being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

"People will see that Salzburg is not just about Mozart — we’re surrounded by beautiful nature and plenty of sports options," host city spokesman Martin Roseneder said.

In the region surrounding the southern city of Klagenfurt, officials hope to impress first-time fans from Croatia and Poland and rekindle enthusiasm among Germans, who have traditionally visited the area in droves but whose numbers have dropped off lately.

"Thousands of fans are coming into our region who could become vacationers down the road," said Wolfgang Doerfler of the regional chamber of commerce.

"This is a perfect opportunity and could have a stimulating effect in the long-term," he said.

Tyrol, a popular skiing destination in the country’s mountainous west, is counting on winning over fans who may never have contemplated a visit to Innsbruck when the area’s many slopes are covered in grass, not snow.

Peter Trost of the Tyrollean chamber of commerce says care should be taken not to go overboard. The key, he said, was making people feel welcome.

"You can’t force it on anyone," he said.

The camp will be open from June 6 to 22, 2008. At the camp, bunk beds will be offered at a rate of € 25.- for fans arriving with backpacks, for students and guests who could not get a hotel room.
The fan camp is very centrally located. Thanks to its immediate vicinity to the fan zone, you’ll be right in the middle of where everything is happening. All the important destinations can be reached easily on foot; the city centre is 10 minutes away, the train station 5 minutes and the stadium 30 minutes.
What you’ll find at the fan camp:

. Bunk bed cubicles for 8 -12 people, own sleeping bag
. Toilets and hot showers
. 24-hour check-in and info-point
. 24-hour security
. Bulky luggage depot
. Catering on the exhibition grounds
. Internet point
. Sports
. Fan zone close by
. 2500 m distance to stadium
. Party
. Unrivalled value for money in a top location
. Fans from all over the world
. 1200 lockers
. Lounge with table football, beverage vending machine, seating, ..
Please bring your own sleeping bag or sheet. Sleeping bags and sheets will also be on sale at the site!
Prices
Blanket  € 6.-
Pillow   € 5.-
Linen   € 4.-
Accommodation areas for:
Men
Ladies
Mixed areas
Separate booking conditions apply for all of them. Individual bookings can, for example, only be made according to sex - either in the ladies or the men’s area. Only couples can book the mixed area.