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标准的命题作文233

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/road-euro2024-germany-philipp-lahm/

I have been asked a couple of times why I naturally assumed the role of an European Championship ambassador. The answer is easy: It's in my family.

For as long as I can remember, my family has cared about the club FT-Gern - the club where I started playing. My father was a trainer, my mother is a youth leader, my sister is responsible for marketing affairs. It may sound strange to some that this is an important motive for me to fulfill a task on the big football stage. But from an early age club life has had a great significance for me. Grassroots sport is the basis of high level sport and provides the traction that even high level sports desperately needs.

When the DFB asked me if I would fulfill the role of a European Championship ambassador, I did not have to think twice. The request caused two strings to vibrate in me. The string of the boy whose life is inseparable from his club, and the string of the top athlete who can use his experience to be of service to a project that is bigger than his own story.

Our application had the right focus. Especially in times of uncertainty, Germany as a stable democracy reflects an aura of reliability. Our country is located in the middle of Europe and is easy to reach from all directions. The infrastructure is first class and will be improved again before 2024. The economic situation is good, high investments in the European Championships are secured. Fans from the core countries of European football - Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, France - do not have to travel endlessly to join a big party in Germany with their teams; a festival that brings together fans of all nationalities; a celebration that uses the magic of football to make friendships and celebrate beyond the borders of each country, the common, connecting factors.

When I traveled to Nyon with the DFB delegation, we had already reached our first destination. I knew that our application was exemplary. We had done our homework. Each of us gave our best on our individual terrain.

As an official ambassador for the DFB, I was on the road for almost one year, on the one hand to make publicity work for our application and, on the other to conduct numerous one-on-one discussions showing the merits of a European championship in Germany to the decision makers. It may seem almost superfluous given the quality of our candidature, the amount of effort we put in - but the reality was different: every single interview, every conversation, every exchange, every discussion made a decisive contribution to the fact that Euro 2024 can actually take place in Germany.

We could not lose sight of the fact that the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany is still being reappraised. That's why we had to pay particular attention to the transparency of our application, as UEFA also did. I think we all proved in the run-up to the award that we have learned from the past. Of course, that can only be a beginning. Integrity has to be proven anew every day.

We were quite convinced that we would win. But we were not sure. During the discussions with the voters in Nyon, I clearly heard the interest in our application, but as expected, no clues as to a decision. If somebody asked me which side the scale was on, I could not answer. It was open. All members of our delegation felt the same way.

The schedule on the decision day stipulated that both applications would first present their video presentation during the "Final Presentation" and then answer any questions from members of the UEFA Executive Committee on the podium. Our team was composed of national coach Jogi Löw, former national player and DFB integration ambassador Celia Sasic, application manager Markus Stenger and DFB general secretary Friedrich Curtius. Each of us covered an individual topic. In several preparation sessions we simulated the question and answer process to be well prepared for the delegates’ questions. My topic was "Celebration". I would explain why Germany is the ideal place for football fans to celebrate a big party which could connect nations, see above.

It was an unusual preparation for me. So far, I had only worn a suit and tie for traveling. Now this was my competition outfit, so to speak.

We spent four days in Nyon, and I began to feel like we were sliding into a kind of competitive mode. In the run-up, there had been speculation that the Özil-Gündogan affair would affect the awarding of the European Championship, but I thought that was unrealistic. The topic concerned the national team, not the European Championship application. That would not confuse anyone on the Executive Committee, even if our only opponent was Turkey.

When UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin got on stage and picked up the envelope in which the result of the vote was located, I was sat in the front row of the Nyon Auditorium between DFB President Grindel and Celia Sasic.

At this time a few thoughts ran through my mind. Suddenly, the overwhelming feeling as I scored one of my rare goals against Costa Rica during the opening match of the 2006 World Cup in Germany came back. It was the prelude to this incredible party called "Summer Fairy Tale" which improved the atmosphere in Germany.

Then I thought how strange it is not to be able to do anything at such a crucial moment except to stare at someone and wait. Ceferin said a few more binding words: both candidacies were good, unfortunately only one could carry out the European Championships. I wanted nothing else than for the UEFA President to do what he did a few moments later: he took the note out of the cover and announced that we have been accepted as hosts. 

It was only when we got up and hugged each other that I realized how huge the relief was. Everything I had done up to this point had come from deep conviction. I want to play my part to make this European Championship a party for the fans, a celebration, as we promised in our application.

We are currently in the process of organizing the tasks that we need to undertake. Our ideas on how to effect something positive for football in Germany must now be implemented - this award gives us the obligation. More about this in the next post.