In the same year of Expo, Milan proposes itself to host the final of Champions League

Milan proposes itself as candidate to host the final of UEFA Champions League in 2015. The candidacy was announced on 1st August by Franco Carraro, President of the Committee “Expo in Sports” at the press conference held in Casa Italia, the headquarter of Italian athletes at London Olympics. Among the participants: Giuseppe Sala, CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A., and Massimo Achini, President of CSI, an Italian no profit-organization aimed to promote sports among young people.

“From today to September – explained Mr. Carraro – we have to be able, even with the contribution of the two football team of the city, to convince UEFA that the assignation of the 2015 final to Milan wouldn’t be a disadvantage but an advantage”. Carraro’s opinion is shared by the CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A, Giuseppe Sala: “The decision to candidate Giuseppe Meazza Stadium to host the final of UEFA Champions League in 2015 – he stated – is meaningful. There’s not better occasion of 2015 to propose Milan for the final of the most important football competition: until then there will be a system of infrastructures that will make easier the stay of the supporters”.

Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of the city of Milan and Special Commissioner of the Italian Government for Expo Milano 2015 welcomed enthusiastically the decision of the candidacy: “The candidacy of Milan to host the final of UEFA Champions League in 2015 takes on a peculiar meaning in the year of the Universal Exposition of Milan. Our city – he added - boasts a rich tradition of excellences in sports. In particularly, its two football teams, Inter and Milan, together have won ten Champions Leagues and they have supporters all over the world. Sports, nutrition and well-being are always strictly related. That’s why an important event, like the final at San Siro Stadium, can increase the prestige of the city in the year of Expo Milano”.

After 14 years since the final Bayern Munchen-Valencia, San Siro wants to be once again the theatre of the most important football competition. The relationship between the Champions League and the two football teams of the city – Milan and Inter – is tight. On 22nd May 2010 FC Internazionale won its third Champions League. AC Milan, with its seven titles, is the second most successful club after Real Madrid.

In May 2015, when the final will be held, the city of Milan will be on the center of the international attention. Few weeks before the football event, the Universal Exposition of Milan will be inaugurated and it will be developed around a challenging theme for the future of humankind “Feeding the planet, energy for life”. The final of Champions League could thus increase the relevance of Expo Milano 2015 because of the close relationship among food, sports and well-being.

“We believe – added Mr. Carraro – that the city of Milan is able to manage and organize in the same period two international events such the final of UEFA Champions League and the Universal Exposition”.

According to Mr. Sala, “this candidacy demonstrates once again that Expo Milano 2015 works as a system. Besides the events within the Exposition site, Milan, the Province and the entire country will be involved in the definition of a program of events that match the interests of tourists who will visit our Country from 1st May to 31st October 2015”.

“For us – underlined Massimo Achini, President of CSI – is not a simply collaboration but an educational aim: teaching young people the importance of a sane nutrition through sports. Our organization is at disposal of Expo Milano 2015. The Universal Exposition will take at our side during the events – he added – which are almost 10,000 in 140 Italian cities starting from the finals of this year: the logo of Expo Milano 2015 will be on t-shirts of the young participants. Moreover, at our courses, we will emphasize the importance of a balanced diet and we will offer Expo 2015 S.p.A. our volunteers”. 

The Italian Secretary of Tourism and Sport, Piero Gnudi commented positively the proposal:  “The final of Champions League in Milan would be an event rich of meanings in the same year of the Universal Exposition of Milan. Moreover, it would be an important driver for the success of Expo. That’s why we will do everything to ensure UEFA and the football system the better conditions for the realization of the event in Milan in 2015”.

Even Alberto Sangregorio, President of Milan hotelkeepers, is enthusiastic:

“The candidacy of Milan for the final of Champions League in 2015 – he said– is a decision that we welcome enthusiastically. Initiatives, such these, are helpful to relaunch the international dimension of the city. Thanks to the well-known hospitality tradition, Milan is able to manage with its own sources important happenings. The city and the province boast 42,000 rooms and 84,000 beds. The final of Champions League, combined with Expo 2015, is one of those unmissable events able to help Milan to gain again its role in the international scene”.