UEFA is confident France "will be ready to stage" Euro 2016 "even though stadium construction has yet to start," officials said on Wednesday, according to Gregory Blachier of REUTERS. France had to "build or refurbish most of the stadiums for the tournament but that was not a concern for the European governing body." UEFA President Michel Platini said, "I think that all the stadiums will be ready. Lyon (stadium) is going to be built, Lens looks like it will be done, I don’t think there will be a problem." While the St. Etienne, Marseille and Bordeaux venues, used for the 1998 World Cup, are being refurbished, "work has barely begun in Lyon." The future Stadium of Lights, which will have a capacity of 60,000 and is the first venue to be 100% funded by private investment, "is expected to be ready by late 2015." Heavy work, scheduled to last 30 months, "has not yet started because of a string of legal actions brought by activists" (REUTERS, 6/26).
NEW LOGO REVEALED: The EFE reported Platini unveiled the official Euro 2016 logo in Paris inspired by the phrase, "celebrating the art of football." French Football Federation President Noël Le Graët attended the presentation. The slogan expresses "the beauty of the game and the creativity of the French culture and also illustrates the qualities that make football such a unique and popular sport" (EFE, 6/26).
