Euro 2016 Kicks Off Friday: Trophy Logistics in France ⚽

France vs Romania opens UEFA Euro 2016 on June 10 at Stade de France. The Delaunay Trophy is already in Paris under UEFA security. Worth understanding the logistics of moving an 8kg silver cup across a host country safely.

Travel Case Is a Trophy Investment

UEFA travels with the Delaunay in a custom Pelican-style hard case with foam cutouts molded to the trophy silhouette. The case costs more than most regional sport trophies. The lesson: any high-value perpetual cup that travels between venues should have a fitted hard case — not a velvet bag in a generic Pelican. Loose movement is what dents and scratches accumulate over years.

Two-Person Handling Rule

UEFA staff always handle the trophy in pairs — one to lift, one to spot. Single-person handling is where drops happen. For tournaments where your perpetual cup moves between ceremony stage and trophy room, brief security or volunteer staff that two-person handling is mandatory. The minor inconvenience is worth a decade of dent-free service.