Martin Kallen, chief operating officer of Euro
2008 SA (¿uefa.com)
In the latest issue of the official UEFA EURO 2008T magazine
Inside, Euro 2008 SA chief operating officer Martin Kallen looks back
at a hectic 12 months and forward to the final tournament in Austria and
Switzerland in two summer's time.
2006 has come and gone, and one of the good things about working on a
project like UEFA EURO 2008T is there's no percentage in looking back.
We're driving a train that is steadily picking up speed as it heads for
its destination, and the only way to look is forward.
Buzz of excitement
The buzz of excitement is certainly getting louder all the time in all
the sectors that fit together to make up our preparation programme. Everything
is beginning to feel more real. The buzz can certainly be heard in our
own offices. Our staff is growing rapidly. We now have 60 people on board
and we're going to double that figure in a relatively short space of time.
It means the organisation has a richer texture and the whole shape and
personality of the team is changing fast.
Gathering momentum
Progress is being made in areas ranging from TV sales to core issues like
safety and security. At the same time, negotiations with the host cities
are nearing completion and structures are beginning to take shape. We'll
be starting 2007 in a situation where we are ready to set everything in
stone and to forge ahead at full speed with our preparations. Work in
both countries is gathering momentum and things look very promising for
2008.
No spare time
The nice thing is we don't have any spare time to play with. From now
on, we have to hit our targets and we have to hit them on time. Ticketing,
for example, is always a big issue at major events and the sales process
for UEFA EURO 2008T gets under way in the spring. Arrangements have already
reached a very advanced phase but we still have to work at full speed
in order to reach our objectives and to satisfy the public.
Racing forward
But if, as we race into 2007, you asked me to deliver one single message,
it would have to be the fact we are now entering the all-important phase
where we no longer have a 'comfort zone'. We have finished the warming-up
and we now have to get out there and get on with the game. That may sound
a bit unreal when we still have about 18 months to go. So I had better
explain exactly what I mean.
Huge project
Organising the final tournament of the UEFA European Championship is a
huge project, and the start of the project is all about blueprints, data
and concepts. We go into 2007 at the critical point where that part has
been concluded. A lot of thinking and planning have been done and a lot
of foundations laid. Now comes the moment of truth, or rather, a million
moments of truth, because all the operational concepts now have to be
implemented, piece by piece. From now on, our preparations will be like
a penalty shoot-out. If we want to win, we have to hit the target every
time. There is no comfort zone, no margin for error.
Passion and commitment
There are huge amounts of work to be done in both countries. And everything
will depend on the quality of the work we do and, above all, on the amount
of passion, commitment and team spirit we put into the project and its
successful implementation. Now is the moment when we have to get into
top gear and, between all of us, we have to make sure - by sheer enthusiasm
and hard work - that 2007 really is a happy new year.
,
15 December 2006.
Russian ladies dream about happy marriage.
Click on a photo...
¿ Russian National Football Team - RussiaTeam.com
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