Fanembassies

Fans’ Embassies have by now become a well-known element during international tournaments. Supporters have learned to refer to them for information and services. They know that Fans’ Embassies have been providing – nationally or internationally – much needed support during their stay abroad following their team, delivered to them by fans just like them. Events like the UEFA European Championship or the World Cup provide an ideal context to set up proper fan hosting measures. Thousands of fans travel to the host countries, enjoy the atmosphere, meet supporters from other countries, some of them even manage to have tickets to see the game. There’s a lot more to the game itself however, and the organizing committees have understood from past experiences how good hosting programmes need to be put in place at such events.

FARE and FSI have been promoting the concept of Fans’ Embassies for years now. The essence of FARE and FSI’s Fans’ Embassy concept is to provide fan-specific information and services to visitors with a “by fans, for fans” quality. After the positive experience at the UEFA EURO 2004™ in Portugal, the two networks have been financed by UEFA to set up a Fans’ Embassies Programme for the UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland. Fairplay-vidc and POÖH are the two project partners who have been in charge of developing the programme in the host countries.

The UEFA EURO 2008™ programme will be centred around the eight Stationary Fans’ Embassies that will be set up in Austria and Switzerland. These facilities - located in key areas of each host city and staffed with local or international football fans - will be a key information and meeting point throughout the tournament. Apart from providing general information on issues that would customarily be found in a tourist information office, Fans’ Embassies will be the go-to location in regards to tournament and fan-specific matters such as ticket availability, public viewing facilities, locally applicable legislation, stadium regulations, match-day arrangements, etc. Fans’ Embassies will be open daily throughout the tournament and will bring forth an international atmosphere. You can locate their position in each city directly through the side menu. Aside from the Stationary Fans’ Embassies, an essential and highly successful feature will be the work of visiting international Fans’ Embassy teams, who deliver street-work aimed at their own national supporters and support local staff. At the moment, eight nationalities will be represented at the tournament by teams of experienced fan-workers.

FANGUIDE 2008 HOMEPAGE

The official UEFA EURO 2008™ fans website was unveiled on 2 December. In keeping with the motto of the fans embassies ("for fans by fans"), the website has been designed by a supporter of longstanding Austrian club Wiener Sportklub. Content will be offered in the languages of all the competing nations.

Information on the host cities, including links to accommodation offerings, is up on the site. Soon there will be information on travelling to Switzerland and Austria as well getting around the two countries. Additional information on the formalities for entering Switzerland and Austria will also be included.

Key information on the individual host cities, such as tourism information, do's and don'ts in the two host nations, and stadium and tournament details will be added over the coming months.

There will also be a news section containing up-to-the-minute reports on fan hosting matters and the fans embassies at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Like the fans embassies, the website is part of the UEFA EURO 2008™ fan hosting programme being coordinated and run by FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) and the FSI (Football Supporters International).

External links

	Fanguide 2008
	Fanguides Download Page
	Football Supporters International
FARE are not responsible for the content on external websites

Resources

	EURO 2008 Fanzine English.pdf (690.21Mb)
	FARE Antiracism Programme / Report on Euro 2004 (0.17Mb)