13/06/2008 In Miscellaneous by argikon

Just days before the first kickoff of UEFA EURO 2008, Adidas launched an oversize campaign of its own. In co-host Switzerland, fans passing through the Zurich train station were welcomed by a 55-foot tall huddle of players. Eleven colossal doubles of football stars from nine different countries make up the circle. The players stand arm in arm and cheer for each other at the top of their voices and in their own language twice a day during rush hour. The huddle is made up of Ballack and Lahm (both Germany), Van Persie (Netherlands), Cech (Czech Republic), Charisteas (Greece), Villa (Spain), Benzema and Vieira (both France), Chivu (Romania), Ivanschitz (Austria) and Barnetta (Switzerland). It took more than 50 people working daily for a year to create this exhibit.

In Vienna, Austria, Adidas installed a 130-foot-high likeness of the Czech national team goalkeeper Petr Cech, one of the best goalies in the world. The Chelsea FC superstar is presented with an octopus-like eight arms mounted onto a giant ferris wheel that rotate around him. The entire area covered is about the size of a football pitch. “Being chosen for this fascinating project by adidas is a great honor for me,” said Petr Cech.

Apart from the giant goalie, Vienna also exhibits the third Adidas spectacular. Within the F50 TUNiT 16 range, Adidas designed an individual UEFA EURO 2008 football boot for each of the 16 participating nations featuring the national colors, details and facts of the respective country. These 16 different shoes are now on display as oversized models in front of the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna, each shoe as big as a mid-sized car.