Euro 2008 to cost much more than expected

The Swiss taxpayer will have to dig deep for Euro 2008 Keystone Archive

Security for the Euro 2008 football championships will cost six times more than first estimated, the conference of cantonal governments has confirmed.

In total, the event will cost the Swiss taxpayer more than SFr178 million ($138 million). Security measures alone make up SFr65.6 million of the overall cost.

The federal authorities are expected to provide SFr26.4 million, while the cantons hosting the matches will contribute SFr26.3 million. That leaves SFr12.8 million to be paid by the cantons not hosting the championships.

The secretary of the conference, Canisius Braun, confirmed a report to that effect published in the SonntagsZeitung newspaper.

According to Braun, the security costs are accurate while the rest of the figures are preliminary estimates.

Switzerland expects a massive influx of football fans for the event. Last year’s European Championships in Portugal attracted more than a million spectators.

Infrastructure

Investment in transport infrastructure is expected to cost the Swiss authorities SFr23.7 million, marketing a further SFr22.2 million and celebratory events, such as the opening ceremony, will cost an estimated SFr17 million.

Euro 2008 is being jointly hosted and organised by Switzerland and Austria. In Switzerland, matches will take place in Zurich, Basel, Bern and Geneva.

Definitive figures for the Euro 2008 budget should be released by the end of November after they are examined by the government.

The opening match kicks off in Basel on June 7, 2008.

Last week Switzerland and Austria signed a joint framework agreement aimed at ensuring security at the three-week championships.

The planned measures are designed to protect the public against hooliganism, terrorism and other criminal acts.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

The Euro 2008 football championships will cost Switzerland an estimated SFr178 million:

Security: SFr65.6 million
Transport: SFr23.7 million
Marketing: SFr22.2 million
Special events: SFr17 million
Administration: SFr7.5 million
Stadium investment: SFr22.3 million

In brief

In December 2002, Uefa selected Switzerland and Austria to co-host Euro 2008.

The championships will take place from June 7 to 29, 2008.

Matches will take place in four Swiss stadiums – Basel, Bern, Geneva and Zurich – and four stadiums in Austria – Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Vienna.