Rome looking to stage best final yet

There could have been few grander settings for the launch of the 2009 UEFA Champions League final logo and design than the near 500-year-old Julius Caesar Hall in Rome's Campodoglio.

Location
A stone's throw from the Colosseum, the hall conceived by Michelangelo was a fitting venue for the unveiling of the 2009 final logo before scores of reporters, photographers and cameramen. At the focal point of the design is the UEFA Champions League trophy, sitting above a laurel wreath and below the words 'Hail the Champions'. The walls of the world-famous gladiatorial arena frame the trophy and the overwhelming colour is burgundy. "It is about harmonising the symbols of victory of ancient times with those of today," said UEFA competitions director Giorgio Marchetti, "and what better setting for our modern trophy than Rome."

Beautiful game
Italian Football Federation vice-president Demetrio Albertini, who lifted the European Champion Clubs' Cup three times as an AC Milan player, said: "Coming to the world's most beautiful city, we want to stage the most beautiful Champions League final so far. There is an embarrassment of riches in this city for travelling fans and we are prioritising security so that children and families will have no doubts about coming along to make up the crowd.

Home hopes
"Ultimately, though, the final is about the clubs and the players," Albertini added, "and I want to say good luck to the four Italian clubs – FC Internazionale Milano, AS Roma, Juventus and ACF Fiorentina. We hope to see them in the final."

Rome's role
Showing the kind of hospitality that supporters visiting the city can expect by offering the use of a hall normally reserved for council business, Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno described next year's 27 May showpiece as more that just a sporting occasion. "This is a great honour for the city to host such an event," Alemanno said. "It is a social event and we want to show the world what this great city can do. It is a way of cultivating our football but also of showing that our people, organisations and institutions can overcome any difficulties that may present themselves."

Founding fathers
Before the final takes place, the UEFA Champions Festival – a five-day celebration of football to be staged in the heart of the city – will form part of the build-up, while the launch of ticket sales is planned for 16 February, 100 days before the big game. In addition, the cup handover ceremony is scheduled for 21 April, a day known as 'Il Natale di Roma' which celebrates the foundation of Rome by twins Romulus and Remus in 753 BC.

Italian renaissance
Serie A teams have featured on the last two occasions the final was held in the Italian capital: Juventus defeating AFC Ajax in 1996, 12 years after Liverpool overcame Roma, with both finals being decided on penalties. Italian FA president Giancarlo Abete also hoped there would be Italian involvement on 27 May. "English clubs have dominated of late with two sides in last season's final, but it would be nice if at least one of our teams made it as has happened in the past," Abete said. "The key thing is to deliver a good event. UEFA has believed in us and we will deliver. It is fitting the match will be played at the Stadio Olimpico which bears the hallmarks of the Colosseum."

Facelift
Raffaele Pagnozzi, general secretary of the Italian Olympic Committee, promised that the stadium, whose capacity for the final will be 73,000, would be at its best: "There has been investment and the place will look just as good as the city."