Events cancelled as storm forecast ahead of Scotland's Euros clash

Originally Posted by BBC News

The River Rhine runs right through the centre of Cologne.

Walk north along the riverbank from Central Station and the route is lined with row after row of portable toilets.

Not pretty perhaps but an unmissable sign of the city’s preparations to host up to 60,000 Scotland fans when Steve Clarke’s side take on Switzerland in their second match of the Euros campaign.

The authorities in Cologne say they’ve been getting ready for this tournament for six years.

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Two official UEFA fans zones showing all the tournament matches on big screens have been set up on opposite sides of the river with a combined capacity of around 20,000.

That’s not enough, however, to cope with the numbers expected to arrive for Wednesday night’s match where Scotland fans will outnumber their Swiss opponents by three to one.

It’s led the organisers to create another viewing area capable of catering for an additional 50,000 supporters.

Gregor Timmer from the City of Cologne Department of Sports explains this facility – which will also be set up for England’s match against Slovenia next Tuesday – is equipped with six giant screens featuring English language commentary as well as food, drink and, as we’ve seen, rows of toilets.

“We are well prepared and everybody can feel secure and happy here in Cologne” he says.

Scotland fans Brian Burke and wife Ashley from Clydebank arrived in the city last Thursday. Read Full Article

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