Vienna is a hive of activity as preparations continue apace for UEFA EURO 2008™ with the finishing touches now being put in place on the city’s Fan Zone.

Big event
“We have 100,000m² to cable, which is way larger than any other event,” said Thomas Karab who is responsible for constructing the Fan Zone. He and 200 others are installing a 70m² video screen, dozens of toilets and five kilometres of fencing around the Fan Zone at Helden Square which will have a capacity of 15,000 during the tournament.

A huge party this weekend in Biel will mark the opening of one of the 16 UBS Arenas for public viewing in Switzerland.
Cultural highlights
From today until Sunday, visitors to the arena – known as the ‘fifth stadium’ in Switzerland – can expect top-notch programmes of entertainment featuring culinary and cultural highlights as well as popular musical acts from the country including Gotthard, Gentleman, Gölä and Stefanie Heinzmann. The arenas will offer covered stands, standing room and a giant LED screen – ideal conditions in which fans will be able to enjoy UEFA EURO 2008™ matches.

The medical services in Basel will work closely with their counterparts from the German town of Lorrach to ensure first-class care for visitors attending UEFA EURO 2008™.

Maiden collaboration
As part of this transnational collaboration – the first of its kind – data will be shared between Basel’s University and St Clara hospitals and the one in Lorrach, while border crossings have been made easier for ambulances during EURO to guarantee the best medical attention for those in need. Should this co-operation prove successful, it could be expanded after the tournament.

Emergency number
In addition, Basel’s two hospitals have taken steps to make it easier to register and treat guests from outside the European Union via a system which had previously eased only transnational processes within the EU. Visitors should be aware that there is a free emergency telephone number to reach a doctor around the clock – +41 844 4357 08.