Police present security and traffic measures for Europa Conference League final in Athens
FILE PHOTO: OPAP Arena in Athens. ANA – MPA/AEK FC/STR
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The Hellenic Police on Tuesday presented the strict security and traffic measures that will be taken for the safety and security of the UEFA Europa Conference League final at the OPAP Arena in Athens at 22:00 on Wednesday evening, between rival teams Olympiacos and Fiorentina.
According to the General Police Director of Attica, Major General Ioannis Skouras, who is the ‘golden commander’ of the security effort for the final, every effort will be made to protect the event and ensure it runs smoothly, with all police services assisting and roughly 5,000 police officers used.
Their task will include ensuring the game and associated events are conducted smoothly, to protect the athletes, officials, journalists and spectators, ensure the orderly arrival and transportation of fans – including people with disabilities – and preventing and averting any violence against persons or property.
Using a system of colour-coded red, blue and white tickets, the authorities have set up two separate official Fan Meeting Points for the supporters of the two teams, who will be transported to the stadium under escort on metro line 1 trains and public transport buses exclusively for this purpose.
Olympiacos fans with red tickets will gather at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro and gradually be taken to the game in metro line 1 trains that will make no other stops, disembarking at Perissos station and walking to the stadium under a police escort.
Fiorentina fans will be supplied with blue tickets and will meet at the OAKA stadium, from where they will be taken to the OPAP Arena on OSY buses, using stringent protection measures.
Spectators that support neither team will have white tickets and will board trains leaving the metro line 1 stations ‘Irene’ and ‘Thissio’ that will go directly to Perissos station, without making any stops. Minivans will be available at Perissos and Apostolakis Park for the use of persons with disabilities, to take them to the OPAP Arena.
All of metro line 1 will be closed to commuters from 17:00 on Wednesday, with only the stations used for the transport of fans remaining open and only ticket holders to the games permitted to use the trains. Fans must have both a legal ticket made out in their name and a police ID card.
Measures to secure the area around the stadium and establish a security perimeter have begun since Sunday, and only those with special clearance are permitted to pass through security checks. Spectators will be directed to the appropriate access points, where they must again show their ticket and ID and submit to a body search. The tickets outline the terms and forbidden items, while those found in possession of forbidden items will be removed and taken into custody.
Four hours before the start of the game, the external perimeter will open so that spectators can gather inside, while a series of events have been planned there by UEFA. Three hours before kickoff, the stadium gates will open and spectators will be able to begin entering.
The departure of fans will be carried out in the reverse manner, with Olympiacos supporters taken to Perissos station and Fiorentina supporters to the buses on Dekelias Avenue.
Tight security measures are also envisaged for the transportation of the teams, referees and officials.
Apart from the security measures, police have also announced a series of traffic measures in districts around Nea Philadelphia where the match is taking place, which started coming into effect since Monday. They include the closure of roads, especially those around the stadium but also in central Athens, Faliro and other fan meeting points, and restrictions on parking and stopping.
The most sweeping of the traffic measures will be taken on Wednesday, with motorists advised to refrain from using their cars in the above roads and to follow the instructions of the police.
Source: ANA – MPA
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