European Championship 2024 - A description of what audiences will witness during the kickoff event.
The fever chart is on an upward trend, and the games are about to commence. On Friday night, Germany will kick off the European Men's Football Championship with a spectacular opening event. Alongside upbeat musical performances, spectators at the stadium and viewers on screens can anticipate a dazzling Pyro-Show. The realization of this extravaganza went down to the wire. Alongside the exuberant and noisy moments, a tribute to a German football hero was also a necessity.
Excitement for the Summer Softee 2.0
Throughout the nation, there's a palpable sense of anticipation. Once again, a Football tournament is taking place here at home! Despite the temperatures not quite reaching the heights experienced during the Summer of 2006: Football fanatics in all corners of the country, from Flensburg to Oberstdorf, are eagerly anticipating another Summer Fairy Tale. Much like in 2006: The German team's form was not exactly predictable back then either. The first glimpses of the current German team's abilities - and potentially three points - will be provided during the opening match against Scotland at 9 pm. Before this, a captivating opening show is poised to fan the flames of Euro fever across the continent and beyond.
"Fire" kickstarts the celebration
UEFA Euro 2024 anthems are proliferating faster than wild mushrooms in the forest. The official UEFA theme for Euro 2024 is titled "Fire" and is a collaborative effort between the Italian DJ duo Meduza, the American Pop-Rock band OneRepublic, and the German singer Leony (26). Their energetic track, guaranteed to ignite the party and get everyone dancing, aptly serves as the official invitation for us all to celebrate a stunning evening and a peaceful, joyful tournament in the name of football.
Munich steps back from opposing the Pyro-Show at the last second
A total of 130 "pyrotechnic items" will be deployed during the opening show. Initially, the debate surrounding the use of fireworks, rockets, and smoke bombs had become quite contentious. The Munich authorities had pressed UEFA to abandon pyrotechnics altogether. The opening ceremony should not convey misleading visual signals to European football fans, and the organizer should be held to the same standards throughout the tournament. The use of Pyro-Technics in the fan zones has been a significant safety concern in professional Football for years. But then, just yesterday, the Munich Fire Brigade gave their blessing to the fireworks, stating, "the use of pyrotechnics was approved without reservations." So, let the fireworks begin!
Emotional Moment: A nod to a German Football deity
One of the more touching highlights of the opening ceremony is slated to be a tribute to a German Football deity.
Apart from the lively celebrations, the Euro 2024 organizers promise to trigger goosebumps during one of the quieter moments of the evening: a poignant remembrance of the three German European Cup victories in 1972, 1980, and 1996. It had been planned that the captains of each of those teams would present the European Championship trophies in the "Munich Football Arena". Regrettably, the captain of the 1972 team passed away on January 7: Franz Beckenbauer. His wife Heidi Beckenbauer (57) will honor his memory alongside the captains of the 1980 and 1996 teams, Bernhard Dietz (76) and Jürgen Klinsmann (59), and the Munich Arena with a heartfelt nod and a call to the German team: "Come on, let's play football!" We'd better pick up some tissues, just in case - but hopefully, only for the ceremony, not the results of the German game.
