Euro 2008 Shorts

VIENNA – Briefs for Euro 2008 finals which are being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland and run from June 7-29: * Euro priest Euro 2008 has its designated beer, its signature T-shirts and now its very own priest.

Reverend Christoph Pelzcar from the parish of Weikendorf, near Vienna, has been named the tournament’s official spiritual coach and will be on hand to provide guidance or relief to players and fans alike, in the event of a loss or even a win. A team of 500 youngsters will help him assemble his flock of disappointed supporters.And Poland’s football team has already requested the services of the Polish-born priest.* Burning emotions The Austrian Church wants to ignite tensions during the championship.Angry, distraught or triumphant fans will be encouraged to write their emotions on small pieces of paper that will be collected at a kind of wailing wall near Vienna’s fan mile and set on fire at the end of the tournament.One way to let off steam, or in this case, smoke.* Peace Euro 2008 should be a festival of peace, Swiss Defence and Sports Minister Samuel Schmid exhorted at a mass held by the Swiss bishops’ conference and the Swiss Evangelical Alliance.His T-shirt slogan-worthy message: “Drunk on hate and alcohol: no! Drunk on joy: yes!” * Trashy food Some 130 rubbish collectors will be responsible for cleaning Vienna’s 100 000-square-metre fan mile every night between 02h00 and 09h00 to preserve the city’s image as one of the cleanest capitals of Europe.Food stalls in the public viewing zone will also have to serve their chicken wings, sausages and fries in edible containers, to limit the amount of rubbish left over by fans.One question: do these containers have any nutritional value? * Thirsty? At least 2,7 million litres of the official Euro 2008 beer are being shipped to Austria to quench the thirst of thousands of dehydrated fans during the championship.No less than 140 train wagons will be needed to transport the precious drink, which will end up in some 1,4 million reusable cups, ready to be served to the awaiting crowds.* Patriotic poodle Forget the face paint, the colourful wigs and the team shirt.Real Austrian fans can now equip their pets with a special Austria get-up that will turn any poodle or kitty into a true flag-carrier.* Preaching to the choir Christian leaders in Austria are counting on football to spread faith.Team spirit and fair play are important in life as on the pitch, they say.And preaching will be made easier by the Euro, according to bishop Franz Lackner: you can quote football coaches instead of prophets, he noted.* Legal aid The Democratic Jurists of Switzerland are worried about football fans.Because their rights may be violated under the extreme security precautions surrounding the championship, not because they may be violent.The group has printed a flyer in French, German, English and Turkish to warn supporters of their fundamental rights.They will also set up clinics in the four Swiss host cities and a telephone hotline to provide counsel.Better safe than sorry.Nampa-AFPA team of 500 youngsters will help him assemble his flock of disappointed supporters.And Poland’s football team has already requested the services of the Polish-born priest.* Burning emotions The Austrian Church wants to ignite tensions during the championship.Angry, distraught or triumphant fans will be encouraged to write their emotions on small pieces of paper that will be collected at a kind of wailing wall near Vienna’s fan mile and set on fire at the end of the tournament.One way to let off steam, or in this case, smoke.* Peace Euro 2008 should be a festival of peace, Swiss Defence and Sports Minister Samuel Schmid exhorted at a mass held by the Swiss bishops’ conference and the Swiss Evangelical Alliance.His T-shirt slogan-worthy message: “Drunk on hate and alcohol: no! Drunk on joy: yes!” * Trashy food Some 130 rubbish collectors will be responsible for cleaning Vienna’s 100 000-square-metre fan mile every night between 02h00 and 09h00 to preserve the city’s image as one of the cleanest capitals of Europe.Food stalls in the public viewing zone will also have to serve their chicken wings, sausages and fries in edible containers, to limit the amount of rubbish left over by fans.One question: do these containers have any nutritional value? * Thirsty? At least 2,7 million litres of the official Euro 2008 beer are being shipped to Austria to quench the thirst of thousands of dehydrated fans during the championship.No less than 140 train wagons will be needed to transport the precious drink, which will end up in some 1,4 million reusable cups, ready to be served to the awaiting crowds.* Patriotic poodle Forget the face paint, the colourful wigs and the team shirt.Real Austrian fans can now equip their pets with a special Austria get-up that will turn any poodle or kitty into a true flag-carrier.* Preaching to the choir Christian leaders in Austria are counting on football to spread faith.Team spirit and fair play are important in life as on the pitch, they say.And preaching will be made easier by the Euro, according to bishop Franz Lackner: you can quote football coaches instead of prophets, he noted.* Legal aid The Democratic Jurists of Switzerland are worried about football fans.Because their rights may be violated under the extreme security precautions surrounding the championship, not because they may be violent.The group has printed a flyer in French, German, English and Turkish to warn supporters of their fundamental rights.They will also set up clinics in the four Swiss host cities and a telephone hotline to provide counsel.Better safe than sorry.Nampa-AFP

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