Estimates regarding ticket sales for the European Championships suggest that 95 percent of the 1.2 million tickets available for the Euro 2004 Finals which get under way in Portugal on Saturday have been sold, according to a Portugueuse government statement released at the end of last week. Madalena Torres, overseas promoter for Portugal’s trade and travel promotion agency Icep, revealed that 350,000 tickets were purchased by foreigners and the rest by Portuguese fans.

Estimates from the government suggest that a total of half a million foreign tourists will travel to Portugal during the June 12-July 4. The figures include family and friends who are expected to accompany fans with tickets.

Sales so far represent a larger number than the entire number of tickets sold during the last European tournament, held jointly by Belgium and Holland in 2000, with tickets still available for some games. Championship organisers initially hoped that at least 75 percent of the seats for the tournament, which will be staged at 10 stadiums in eight cities across Portugal, would be sold.