Hybrid Grass for 2 Stadiums at the European Football Championships

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Jun 07, 2012, 05:00 ET

DENDERMONDE, Belgium, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

With a few days before the kick-off of Europe's largest football event, exciting times for football fans can commence. Two stadiums in Ukraine will have a hybrid grass pitch. In the stadiums of Kharkiv and Donetsk, Desso Sports Systems has installed their hybrid grass system, a 100 % natural grass pitch reinforced by artificial fibres.

Top matches on a high tech pitch

With this type of pitch, the stadiums of Donetsk and Kharkiv will have a perfect pitch throughout the tournament. The stadiums will be used intensely for both matches and training. Thanks to the reinforcement of artificial fibres, Desso GrassMaster offers reliable pitches in all weather conditions.

Alexander Atamanenko, CEO of Donbass Arena, Donetsk: "In three weeks time, Donbass Arena will host 5 matches in the EURO 2012 tournament, including a quarter and semi-final. With Desso GrassMaster we will have a perfect playing surface throughout the tournament."

Co-host Ukraine will play 2 matches in Donetsk. Holland will play all of its group matches in the stadium of Kharkiv, including the game against Germany. On June 7 England will play against France in the stadium of Donetsk.

About the hybrid system

The system consists of a 100 % natural grass pitch into which artificial fibres are injected 20 cm deep, every 2 cm across the pitch. This results in approximately 20 million artificial fibres, reinforcing the natural grass. The ingenuity of the system is to be found below the surface. The natural grass roots grow around the artificial fibres, thus anchoring the field. The system offers stability and reinforcement, ensuring a uniform surface in perfect condition at all times.

The pitches at Kharkiv and Donetsk were installed in the summer of 2011, and successfully withstood the very harsh winter.

Top players already familiar with Desso GrassMaster

Most players active at the tournament have already experience with playing on the special grass in their regular competition. More than 450 clubs have already installed the system in their stadium or training center. Top clubs such as Arsenal FC, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, AZ Alkmaar, RSC Anderlecht play on the Desso GrassMaster system already for a number of years.

A number of matches during the FIFA 2010 World Cup Football in South Africa was played on Desso GrassMaster pitches.

Since the installation of the system in 2010 in Wembley, the stadium has a perfect pitch again. In 2011, more than 60 sports events and 8 weeks of concerts were organized. During the Olympics 2012, Wembley will host qualifying football matches, the semi-finals and finals.

About the company:

Desso Sports Systems are the international leader in innovative sports fields for football, rugby and hockey pitches as well as tennis courts and multifunctional fields.

Over time, the company has installed more than 50 million m² of artificial turf and hybrid grass at both amateur and professional clubs all over the world.

Desso Sports Systems is a FIFA Preferred Producer for football turf and active member of various associations including European Stadium and Safety Managers Association (ESSMA), Belgian Sports Technology Club (BSTC) ESSG (Event Stadium Suppliers Group) and ESTO (European Synthetic Turf Organisation).

Desso Sports Systems is part of Desso, well known for contract carpeting and carpet tiles for offices, public buildings, schools, hospitals and airlines. Sustainability and creativity are important key values that become part of the design and the Cradle-to-Cradle objectives.

http://www.dessosports.com

http://www.dessograssmaster.com

SOURCE Desso