There are less than 100-days to go until UEFA Euro 2016 and excitement is building across Europe as we head towards 10 June and the start of the tournament.
With a record three home nations qualifying for this year’s competition, we’re expecting an unprecedented number of fans to make the short trip to France to support their team and soak up the atmosphere. Personally, I’m really excited (and hopeful!) about the outcome although I’m sure we’re set for a great summer of sport, regardless of the results.
As the Football Liaison Officer for the British Embassy in Paris, it’s my job to ensure all travelling fans have a safe and successful time in France and that all the host cities are best prepared for the influx of supporters.
I am in the process of visiting each of the host cities, and from what I’ve seen already, the excitement is clearly building. Each region has its own footballing history and passion for the game as well as a unique French charm.
If you’re thinking about coming over in the summer, then I really would recommend spending a little bit of time reading up on the area you’re heading to before you arrive, as it’ll help you to make the absolute most of your trip.
A key part of my role has been working with local stakeholders and identifying any potential issues that could affect travelling British nationals, as well as ensuring the required consular assistance is in place ahead of the tournament.
All fans should travel with photocopies of their key documents and take good care of their passport. Our recent survey [1] identified that three quarters of fans plan to take out travel insurance for their trip and 77% of fans already have their EHIC. For those without, you can apply for one on GOV.UK.
Two thirds of fans making the trip have already booked their accommodation, so places are filling up quickly and I would recommend securing travel and accommodation before you leave to avoid disappointment.
Dealing with lost or stolen passports and money can eat into your time and potentially risk missing one of the games. Look after your belongings and if you do find yourself in difficulty during the tournament, you can find advice and assistance on gov.uk/euro2016.
Additional consular assistance will be on hand to help with any queries including contacting friends and family in the case of hospitalisation or arrest, and the provision of an emergency travel document, in the case of lost or stolen passports.
I’m working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, who are supporting the same initiatives through the ‘Be on the Ball’ campaign, which has been designed specifically for fans heading to France for the tournament this summer.
We’ve teamed up with a number of key organisations for the campaign including each of The Football Associations and The Football Supporters Federation, to help provide fans with all the information they need to prepare for their trip, including an 11 step checklist of traveller tactics to cross off in the lead up to kick off.
You can keep up to date with the campaign on Twitter using #BeOnTheBall and @FCOtravel, as well as FCOtravel on Facebook and gov.uk/euro2016.
In the meantime, the countdown continues!
[1] The survey was conducted by the FCO and consisted of 1,668 fans from across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.