“We really were ‘United by Football, vereint im Herzen Europas’.”

December 11, 2024

“We really were ‘United by Football, vereint im Herzen Europas’.”

type:
News
, Topic:
Sport
, Date:
15 October 2024

Federal Minister Faeser thanks police and rescue workers for their services during the European summer of sport.

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser made a point of personally thanking the police and rescue workers who serve under her remit as well as the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) for their support at the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. Some 200 representatives of the relevant agencies were invited to attend this event at the Federal Police Air Squadron base in Blumberg on 14 October 2024.

quote:

“We really were ‘United by Football, vereint im Herzen Europas’. Together we made the tournament a ‘Home Match for Europe’.”

Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser

No ordinary deployment

Federal Minister Faeser paid tribute to the great work of the personnel deployed not just at UEFA EURO 2024, but also at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. It was thanks to them, she said, that those sporting events went ahead successfully – and above all safely. “I am grateful that you were prepared to make sacrifices for this work – which included a holiday ban during the period in question,” said Minister Faeser. “The fact that all of you were willing to accept this testifies to your great sense of responsibility for our country.” She added that their commitment had been extraordinary, as had the operations they were deployed on, especially in view of the global political situation. Thanks to comprehensive security measures in and around venues, as well as effective work by the security authorities behind the scenes, threats from terrorism and hooliganism were prevented, as were hybrid threats.

Peaceful celebrations during the summer of sport in 2024

In the stadiums and fan zones, millions of fans from Germany and abroad shared in the excitement and celebrated together. The bonding power of sport was palpable and sent a signal of friendship and connection. “It is thanks to you that people in Germany and Europe will remember UEFA EURO 2024 as an absolute highlight of this year’s summer of sport”, said Minister Faeser, adding that the event had strengthened the sense of social cohesion in Germany and Europe.

Among those who contributed to the smooth running of UEFA EURO 2024 were 22,000 Federal Police officers and some 13,000 staff (mainly volunteers) of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW).