After the recent spate of tragic terrorist attacks, there was an air of tension surrounding the staging of the tournament.
The upgrade in security was apparent as soon as we stepped off the Eurostar. Wherever you looked there were army officers clutching guns – a reminder of the strange new world we find ourselves in.
Despite this, and the negative stories of clashes between police and fans elsewhere in France, the atmosphere I experienced was one of unity. From the England and Wales fans’ friendly joking in the queue for a train, to the multitude of nationalities that congregated in the same bars each night.
We met a Dutchman, whose team hadn’t qualified, but who had decided to come anyway to support Ukraine and an Albanian who had driven all night to watch his team play in their first tournament.
While suggestions that this type of fraternising with our brothers and sisters across the channel will come to an end if we vote to leave the EU on Thursday are wide of the mark, there is little denying that it would send a message.
Yes, the countries of the EU have differences and the organisation itself can be a bureaucratic nightmare but we also have a lot more that unites us.
This is clearly the feeling of most in travel, who have overwhelmingly voted in support of remaining in the EU in every industry poll. As we learned this week though, several companies appear braced for a Brexit and are clearly worried enough about the outcome to urge employees to consider their vote carefully.
Come Friday morning we will finally know which future the UK public has decided on. But if we vote for Brexit, I for one can’t help feeling what a terribly sad thing that would be.
Patrick Whyte
Deputy news editor, TTG
