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Factbox Austria-Switzerland's successful 2008 bidPosted: Thursday December 12, 2002 5:03 PMVIENNA (Reuters) -- Factbox on the successful joint bid from Austria-Switzerland to stage the 2008 European soccer championship: VENUES: The following eight venues are planned: Ernst Happel Stadium/Vienna; 50,000; would host opening ceremony, group matches, quarterfinal, semifinal, final. New Waidmannsdorf Stadium/Klagenfurt (new 32,000 stadium to be completed by 2006); Capacity would rise to 40,000 if the bid is successful); Would host group matches, quarterfinal. Salzburg Stadium/Salzburg (new stadium currently under construction to be completed by spring 2003); 32,700; would host group matches. Tivoli-New Stadium/Innsbruck; 32,000 (currently holds 15,200 but to be upgraded by 2004); would host group matches. Zurich Stadium/Zurich (due to be completed by 2006 on the site of FC Zurich's Hardturm Stadium); 30,000; would host group matches. St-Jakob Park/Basel; 33,000; would host group matches, quarterfinal. Wankdorf Stadium/Berne (new national stadium to be completed by 2004 with the world's largest solar power system); 40,000; would host group matches, quarterfinal, semifinal. Stade de Geneve/Geneva (new stadium to be completed in 2003); 30,000; would host group matches. COST: The official bid presentation estimates the cost of the event at more than 110 million euros. FOOTBALL SET-UP: Austria -- The first official domestic league was set up in 1911, contested only by teams from Vienna, seven years after the foundation of the Austrian Football Association. It was not until 1949 that teams from outside Vienna were permitted to enter. More than 2,300 clubs exist with over 120,000 players registered throughout Austria. Switzerland -- Switzerland's Nationalliga was introduced in 1898, three years after the formation of the Swiss Football Association. The country boasts 1,451 clubs with more than 89,000 players. FOOTBALL HONORS: Austria: World Cup semifinals in 1934 and 1954; Olympic runner-up in 1936 and quarterfinals in 1912 and 1952; European championship quarterfinal in 1960. Switzerland: World Cup quarterfinals in 1934, 1938, 1954; Olympic runner-up in 1924; Knocked out of European championship at the first-round stage in 1964 and 1996. CLUBS: Austria: Austria's Bundesliga consists of 10 professional outfits. Switzerland: The Nationalliga has 12 professional teams with a further 12 teams, both amateur and professional, making up the country's second division. PREVIOUS HISTORY: Austria and Switzerland regularly host major winter sports international world championships and major events. In soccer, Switzerland hosted the 1954 World Cup finals and is home to both European football's governing body UEFA and FIFA, world football's governing body, as well as the International Olympic Committee. The country successfully hosted the European Under-21 Championship this year. The Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna has staged the 1964, 1987, 1990 and 1995 European Cup finals. Austria is famed for its ski runs in the Alps and regularly hosts World Cup events. POLITICAL SITUATION: Austria and Switzerland are amicable neighbors and close trade partners despite significant differences in their cultural and political heritage. Both countries have stable economies, excellent infrastructure and advanced tourist facilities. Both are neutral countries. Austria joined the European Union and NATO in 1995 and holds a seat on the United Nations. The Swiss public voted against joining the European Union in 1992 after a ballot. Switzerland, however, was admitted to the United Nations in 2002. In soccer terms, Austria missed out on a joint-bid with Hungary to host the 2004 European championship and opted to pair up with neigbor Switzerland for the 2008 tournament. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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