Our goal: The greenest EURO ever

 

Welcome to the threshold of a new era in European football—the upcoming European Championship, a tournament set to redefine not only the standards of athletic excellence but also environmental responsibility. In our unwavering pursuit of hosting the greenest EURO ever, we’ve teamed up with Deutsche Bahn's Chief Marketing Officer and enthusiastic football fan, Jürgen Kornmann, to lead the charge in sustainable sportsmanship. Join us as we embark on a journey through stadiums roaring with passion, where the thrill of the game converges with groundbreaking eco-friendly initiatives, setting a precedent for future championships to aspire towards. Embrace the marriage of sports fervor with a commitment to preserving our planet, and be a part of the green revolution in the world of football.

"Our goal: The greenest EURO ever"

The UEFA EURO 2024? The group draw is building excitement. The tournament will also be a real challenge for Deutsche Bahn. As a national partner, it will transport many fans to the ten venues and throughout Germany. There is also another big goal. We spoke to Jürgen Kornmann (57), Chief Marketing Officer of DB.

Mr Kornmann, are you a football fan?

Absolutely. As a passionate - but unfortunately only mediocre - kicker, I practically grew up with the ball at my feet. Furthermore, as a native of the Palatinate, my heart naturally beats for 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

So are you looking forward to UEFA EURO 2024 both personally and professionally?

Yes, it's a dream come true. As a fan, I am thrilled that we have such a great tournament on our doorstep and with it the chance to experience a new summer fairy tale like the 2006 World Cup. As a member of Team DB, I want to help fans and teams from all over Europe come together with the environmentally friendly railway and make this event a lavish celebration.

The fans are maximally satisfied when they get from A to B on time.

This is our mission, and we meet this expectation 365 days a year. But to be honest, we have to admit that we don't always succeed in this. This annoys our travelers and ourselves too. That's why we have big plans: From 2024, we will modernize the rail network on a large scale and build like never before. We want to get back to the top of Europe step by step - just as we all hope for the German national team.

Interrail Pass EURO 2024 for guests from Europe reduced by 25 percent.

The railway has set itself another ambitious goal. They want to make the 2024 tournament the most sustainable EURO ever. How is this supposed to succeed?

Rail is the key to climate-friendly mobility. No other motorized means of transport is as environmentally friendly. Among other things, the modern ICE fleet is available for this purpose, which will grow to over 400 vehicles in the coming months. The new trains offer up to 30 percent more seats, a new design and more comfort. The more people use the train, the better for the climate. In this way, together with our customers, we can make a decisive contribution to making this EURO the greenest of all time.

We also want to offer our guests the best possible service. To this end, we are using, among other things, 14 additional EM special trains per day during the tournament period, thereby creating at least 10,000 additional seats per day. In the first step, we are concentrating on trips away from the venues in the late evening, which do not otherwise exist in this form in regular operations.

Can you give us a few more figures about the green transformation at the railway?

Gladly. Long-distance travelers on our EC, IC, and ICE trains in Germany are already using 100 percent green electricity. Since the 2006 World Cup, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by around 42 percent.

Are there special offers for football fans at the EURO?

There will be discounted national DB long-distance tickets for EURO ticket holders from January 17th: They cost 29.90 euros for a one-way journey in 2nd class and 39.90 euros for a one-way journey in 1st class available within Germany. For ticket holders from other European countries, we have a special offer - also from January 17th - that has never been seen before a 25 percent discounted Interrail Pass EURO 2024 for travel to and from 32 European countries - including journeys within Germany. No flight offer can keep up - not to mention the fun factor of a shared Interrail trip for fans from all over Europe.

All 24 teams can travel by train in a climate-friendly way.

JÜRGEN KORNMANN

Does the railway also offer attractive offers for the 24 teams?

Of course: All 24 teams can travel to the venues by train in a climate-friendly way during the EURO. This is what we offer as a national partner.

Last question: Which fans will take the train to the final in Berlin on July 14th next year?

The French and - even if it doesn't look like it at the moment - the German ones.

Interview: Klaus Smentek

Further information at https://em2024.bahn.de/