The acute threat posed by terrorism to innocent people around the world has forced the Portuguese authorities organising Euro 2004 to shift their primary security focus from hooliganism to a potential attack. The current international situation makes the championship a major target, especially following the bombings in nearby Madrid on March 11 and the level of international media attention the tournament will receive.
Euro 2004 is a contest between sixteen national teams and 368 players. Millions of fans worldwide are likely to tune in to an event expected to be covered by around eight thousand journalists. Over a million football fans are planning to visit Portugal. The presidents and prime ministers of victorious nations will add to the headaches by arriving to cheer their teams on.
