VIENNA, June 6 /PRNewswire/ — “Public Viewing” was an integral part of the “summer fairytale” that was
the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The number of visitors was several times
greater than anticipated. In the end, the unique atmosphere of the Fan Fests
attracted more than 14 million people (compared with 3.2 million in the
stadiums).

To accommodate the national and international masses expected across the
country, planning is already underway throughout Austria. With the motto “The
whole country becomes a stadium”, a tight-knit nationwide network of Fan
Festivals has been organised.

Fan Zones in the host cities, the Fan Tour sponsored by Coca-Cola, Kronen
Zeitung, and “2008 - Osterreich am Ball” with 117 locations (three fixed
locations in Graz, St. Polten, and Linz - the remaining 114 are one-day
events), as well as around 240 additional Fan Fests set the stage for a
one-of-a-kind communal celebration, the likes of which Austria has never seen
before. Up to one million viewers a day will be able to follow the euro 2008
in the stadiums and public viewing zones. Not just in the host cities but
also throughout all of Austria, fans will be able to feel and experience the
EURO. Everybody can see himself. Under http://www.austria.info/euro2008 fans
will find detailed information on Holiday Land Austria and event tips on end.

“Public viewing on such a massive scale would not have been possible
without long-term preparation in many vital areas and collaboration between
all the participants. The experiences and awe-inspiring pictures from the Fan
Fests during the 2006 World Cup were enormously helpful to us,” says Heinz
Palme, euro Coordinator-in-chief of the Austrian Federal Government, clearly
pleased with the preparation efforts.

Cross-reference: Grafic is available at:
http://www.ots.at/redirect.php?euro20081

Press-contact:
Lorenz Kirchschlager
euro Coordination Austrian Federal Government
mobile 43-676-88-676-1836
mail lk@oesterreich-am-ball.at

2008 - Osterreich am Ball