The semi-final between Germany and Turkey brought the curtain down on Basel's UEFA EURO 2008™ involvement with some terrific memories being left behind.

Defining moment
Locals will not forget in a hurry the quarter-final between the Netherlands and Russia which saw 180,000 Dutch fans descend upon the city, and local councillor Hanspeter Weisshaupt said affectionately: "The 'Oranjefest' on Kasernenplatz and the Dutch parade to the stadium were unbeatable in terms of spontaneity, geniality, cheerfulness and a straightforward good atmosphere."

Huge influx
UEFA EURO 2008™ brought an estimated one million visitors to Basel, with police officers from France, Germany and Switzerland combining to ensure that the tournament passed by without significant incident. "Not separating the supporters of different teams out and allowing them to follow the games and celebrate together proved the correct decision," explained Weisshaupt.

Spotless streets
The 650 volunteers on duty in the city also played their part in creating a positive atmosphere throughout Basel while a remarkable clean-up operation every night after matches ensured that the streets remained spotless. Some 40 tonnes of waste were picked up in the hours following the Netherlands-Russia game, but tellingly there was no sign of any litter whatsoever by the following morning.

Transport success
The all-night operation extended to transport workers in the region too, and with 80 per cent of fans in the city taking full advantage of Basel's public transport system, traffic congestion was never a problem. Even the huge spikes in traffic at the end of the quarter and semi-final games in the city did not cause any major problems, with transport policy proving a resounding success.

'Exemplary behaviour'
The final night proved to be a celebration for everyone involved in the city's hosting of the six games at the final tournament, and Weisshaupt himself stayed up late to enjoy the festival of football until the very last. "The fans once again displayed exemplary behaviour," he said. "I sat until three in the morning on Marktplatz with German and Turkish fans and we celebrated together."