The official emblem of St. Petersburg for the 2020 Euro Cup football tournament was unveiled during a solemn ceremony here on Thursday.
St. Petersburg was selected among 13 cities of 13 different countries to host the matches of the main European football tournament. The decision to hold the 2020 Euro Cup in various European countries instead of in one or two hosting countries was made at the UEFA Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on December 6, 2012, reports Tass.
The ceremony on Thursday was attended by European football's governing body UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko and St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko.
"We have all rights to be called the football city," Poltavchenko said during the ceremony.
"Our city has been breathing football over the recent years as it is anticipating to host such tournaments as the 2017 Confederations Cup, 2018 World Cup and the 2020 Euro Cup.
"We have recently completed the construction of the football stadium on the Krestovsky Island and are developing transport infrastructure," the governor said.
"We are doing everything in line with the schedule and with the proper quality, which will remain as the heritage of St. Petersburg."
According to UEFA's official website, the logo of St. Petersburg for the 2020 Euro Cup depicts the Palace Bridge, which "has established itself as one of the most iconic sites in the city".
Mutko, who oversees issues regarding sports, tourism and youth policies in the country, praised the selected logo for St. Petersburg at the upcoming Euro Cup.
"The emblem is simply marvellous and it is the most beautiful bridge," Mutko said.
"It seems to me that this catchy emblem will suit all tastes. On the whole, whether we are speaking about the World Cup or the Euro Cup, the anticipation of such tournaments fills us with enthusiasm."
UEFA President Ceferin said he hoped Russia would fulfil all earlier provided guarantees regarding the organisation of the football tournament.
Ceferin also said that the new format of the Euro Cup will be a new challenge for UEFA and football fans, who would have to cover thousands of kilometres across the continent to see the matches of the anniversary tournament.
Four cities in different European countries -- St. Petersburg (Russia), Rome (Italy), Munich (Germany) and Baku (Azerbaijan) -- will be hosting each three group stage matches and one quarter-final match of the 2020 Euro Cup.
Copenhagen (Denmark), Bucharest (Romania), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland), Bilbao (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Brussels (Belgium) and Glasgow (Scotland) will each host three group stage matches and one match of the Last 16 round.
The semi-finals and the final of the 2020 Euro Cup will be held at the Wembley Stadium in London, England.
--IANS
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