Intro:

President Michel Platini hosted the UEFA 2016 launch event at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Thursday (11th September).

Script:

"Thanks to Euro 2016, we will make up for lost time. It is an opportunity for France, an opportunity for French towns, and also an opportunity for French football, because there can't be any big european clubs when there aren't any big stadiums."

"It's also a chance for our regions because millions of tourists will visit the 10 Euro 2016 host cities. We hope that we will be able to make the best impression, which will require all of the partners and participants to fully commit themselves. During the tournament, France and its industries must showcase the best that they have to offer."

"It's easy in terms of organisation, we are used to organising competitions, UEFA is used to organising competitions. That's not the most important thing. What's important is that France wins, that we are proud to be hosting Euro 2016, that France is happy to have the tournament, because there will be hundreds of thousands of people coming to watch. So let's rise to the challenge, that was the purpose of Mr Hollande's meeting today."