With the domestic season coming to an end, the anticipation for Euro 2008 has begun in earnest, and UEFA has now revealed that every ticket for the tournament will feature an anti-racist message.
Over one million tickets will be available for UEFA EURO 2008, and they will all be printed and dispatched from Vienna in the next four weeks.
In a move designed to promote anti-racist initiatives, every single ticket used throughout the tournament will incorporate the Unite Against Racism message.
The branded tickets form part of a coordinated strategy to send out a strong statement against racism and discrimination at this summer's tournament, following on from the success of similar initiatives in Portugal four years ago.
UEFA will be working closely with Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) to celebrate the diversity of Europe's best-loved sport.
Campaigning measures in Austria and Switzerland will include activities at all finals matches under the theme of Unite Against Racism - notably, a specially commissioned advertising spot, articles in match programmes and pitch-side boards spreading the message, as well as branded captains' armbands and stewards' bibs.
These activities will be given a powerful focus at the semi-finals in Vienna and Basel, when the team captains are expected to read out an announcement before kick-off.
A reception hosted by FARE in Basel on the opening day of the tournament will launch the programme, with representatives of UEFA, the UEFA EURO 2008 organising committee, the European Commission, and the host countries in attendance. They will be joined by former players, who will make personal appearances at activities throughout June.
