Sniffer dogs at Euro 2016 press center just hours before kickoff

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 9 years ago

PARIS - With just hours until the kickoff of Euro 2016 with France-Romania at the Stade de France, a large security team with sniffer dogs combed the stadium in a “routine check for explosives”, which also included the media working room, where members of the media were asked to vacate the premises, section by section for 15 minutes.

The International Press Association (AIPS) reported that France goes into the Euro with an unprecedented level of security concern, and the state of emergency in the country following terrorist attacks in November that left 130 dead, has extended to the European Championships.

A total of almost 100,000 French security forces have been called up for the tournament, and media were able to witness the organizers’ commitment to exorbitant – and many would add – welcome- high security measures on Friday.

A grand carousel is expected to be the centerpiece of tonight’s EURO 2016 opening ceremony at the Stade de France as the nation kicks off a continent-wide celebration of football. Similarly so, the stadium in St. Denis, along with nine others across France, will host a spinning carousel of its own in terms of media activity in the next 30 days.

An estimated 3200 journalists and non-rights holders are expected to traipse the country up and down – national rail strikes permitting – in a record coverage of the European Championships. UEFA’s expanded Euro format of 24 teams means that the doors of the tournament are also open to more members of the media from more nations, including five newcomers – Northern Ireland, Wales, Slovakia, Iceland and Albania, expanding UEFA’s reach more than ever before in the process. - AIPS