But the "bet" is not on the playing fields or the perfection of the organization on the part of the hosts - although the problems are already felt, e.g. to train delays in Bavaria, following the damage caused to the railway lines by the recent floods. What is at stake is mainly the effectiveness of the security measures for these four weeks, which for the authorities will surely be excruciatingly slow...

The threats have now changed - both qualitatively and quantitatively. To "traditional" terrorism and hooligans, cyber threats have been added, which can cause from moderate organizational headaches to serious problems e.g. in ticketing security systems. Especially after the start of the war in Ukraine, cases of cyber attacks have increased significantly - so has the vigilance of special services.

"We know, of course, that there are terrorist groups operating in Europe. They have dormant nuclei. This time the threat is bigger, more visible," ex-officer David Holley, who worked as a security consultant for the BBC at the 2006 World Cup, told the CBC network, adding that it is much more difficult to carry out an attack in stadiums. as security measures will be extremely strict. "But the goals will be so many. It's not just the stages. Thousands of people will be in fan zones, squares, restaurants, cafes, concerts, special film screenings and parties. How do you protect so many people? The so-called "soft targets" are much more vulnerable, due to the relaxed atmosphere that prevails, but also to the fact that e.g. in the fan zones there is no ticket", he explains.

Plan

To meet the challenge, Germany has mobilized all its security capabilities, including the armed forces. "Safety is the top priority," says tournament director, veteran soccer player Philip Lahm. In this context, the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) has already been set up in the Neuss region, from where 300 experts from the 24 countries participating in Euro 2024 will monitor the situation. that the reasoning is that "every country knows better than all the others the troublemakers of Ms i can recognize them faster." In addition, France will send police officers to Germany, who will carry out joint patrols with their German colleagues mainly on the rail routes between the two countries and especially when there are matches of the French national team. Europol police officers will also be in the field. Britain, for its part, has imposed a temporary travel ban on 1,600 fans from England and Wales who have been banned from stadiums for hooliganism-related offences.

Indicative of the seriousness that Berlin attaches to security measures is the decision of the federal government to remove Schengen privileges and impose border controls, at least until the end of the games, taking into account Germany's easy land access from many European countries . Three control zones will operate around the stadiums, first for cars, then for personal items (bags, backpacks) and finally for spectator tickets. Between 800 and 1,300 police officers will be deployed at each match, depending on the teams involved and the specific risk assessment. The armed forces will help patrol the event by monitoring the airspace from the National Aviation Security Center and will periodically enforce a no-fly zone even for drones. Additional protection measures will be taken for the representative group of Ukraine.

Brake on the beer

The most specific measures that the Germans will implement in order to facilitate the observance of order include restrictions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Beer will be sold in the bars of the stadiums, but one will only be able to buy up to two packages - not glass -, which, however, they will not be able to bring with them to the platform. Alcohol consumption in stadiums will only be allowed in special areas and not in the stands, as was the case until now, and of course the police can ban drunken fans from entering a stadium. The decision to tighten alcohol regulations somewhat follows the measure first implemented at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where beer was banned from stadiums at the last minute.

Otherwise, fans who will be in Germany for the Euro 2024 matches should still be aware that they are not allowed to walk around in non-authentic team kits. The relevant legislation even provides for fines of up to 4,000 euros. The consumer who does not use the appropriate waste bins for recycling also risks a fine of 100 euros. The regulation also applies to visitors.

Germany will remain on the highest level of alert until the final whistle of the Euro final on July 14 at Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium. Only then will Olaf Solz be able to breathe a sigh of relief. German police officers will then go to France to assist their French colleagues in guarding the Paris Olympic Games, which are also being organized in the midst of two wars in the wider region, with blockades and strict controls, as befits the time. And it is becoming increasingly clear: Logistics, costs and security requirements now make major sporting events almost prohibitive for small or poorer countries. Indicatively, at Euro 2024, only the costs for the renovation of the stadiums, advertising and fan parties reached 400 million euros, while the security of the tournament, although difficult to calculate precisely, cost at least 150 million. But the worst thing is that gradually, the joy of sports, participation and the meeting of nations and cultures, which Germany anxiously named this year "United in the heart of Europe" and commissioned the cute bear 'Albert' to promote, is increasingly overshadowed by anxiety and fear.