Only 4 instead of 15 million: European Championship locations oppose the decision of the Federal Council

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“To put it in Bernese German: I was really ‘dirty’,” says Thun councilor Katharina Ali-Oesch (53). When the Federal Council announced in mid-February that it would only make no less than 15 million francs available four times for the 2025 European Championship, Ali-Oesch initially thought it was a bad joke.

Nowadays the SP politician is much more optimistic about the emerging markets. “For once we are at the top of this roller coaster,” says the councilor happily. The reason: On Wednesday, the Bern government council announced that the canton wanted to support the Bern and Thun locations with a total of 5 million. In addition, another 1.2 million francs will be invested in the European Championship to sustainably promote women’s football.

82 million for men, 4 for women

“With the money from the canton, we can partially compensate for the smaller contribution from the federal government and meet the Thun City Council’s reservation that two-thirds of the budget must be covered by the canton and the federal government,” says Ali-Oesch. She is confident that Thun can now hold the three European Championship matches as planned – even if not quite in the way originally planned. “Namely with an attractive support program and the involvement of the broader population.”

The councilor is still confident that more money will eventually come from the federal government. “We will not give up in tackling inequality at Euro 2008.” The federal government supported the European Men’s Football Championship with a total of 82 million francs – for four instead of the current eight locations. The four million now planned has people across the country shaking their heads.

Basel and Zurich are also hoping for more money

In Basel for example. “To date, the host cities and cantons have already raised more than 60 million francs. That is why we are all the more disappointed with the decision of the Federal Council,” said Sabine Horvath, project manager for Basel for the 2025 European Championships. “We are hopeful that the decision will be corrected during the summer session.”

The same sounds in Zurich, where the city council alone has announced an expenditure of 18.45 million francs. “Against this background, appropriate federal participation in the national project is desirable,” said Regula Schweizer, project manager from Zurich.

The Federal Council is knocking on the site

Zurich, together with the other seven host cities, has therefore turned to the Federal Parliament and the two Federal Councilors Viola Amherd and Karin Keller-Sutter. “We have presented our arguments for appropriate federal involvement in this national project,” says the project manager from Zurich. This would enable the integration of public transport tickets across Switzerland, which is essential for a sustainable tournament, and a national communications campaign at home and abroad.

But it would not only be important for the Swiss economy and especially for tourism that the Federal Council ultimately opens its wallet a little wider. “It would also be a sign towards women’s sports,” says Thun city councilor Katharina Ali-Oesch. It is unlikely that the representatives of the other seven locations of Basel, Bern, Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Sion and St. Gall will contradict her.

Source : Blick