STORY: Istanbul hosts four-day festival ahead of Champions League final
DATELINE: June 9, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:21
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Champions festival in Istanbul, Türkiye
2. various of Turkish Football Federation President Mehmet Buyukeksi and UEFA Champions League final ambassador Hamit Altintop, a former Turkish football player
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAMIT ALTINTOP, Former Turkish football player
4. various of many journalists who followed the ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): EMRE TURHAN, Official anchorman of the festival
6. various of UEFA Champions League trophy in Istanbul, Türkiye
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): YAGIZ KAHRAMAN, DJ, and radio host
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Turkish): EMRE TURHAN, Official anchorman of the festival
9. various of people attending the festival in Istanbul, Türkiye

STORYLINE:

A four-day festival started in Istanbul on Thursday ahead of the UEFA Champions League final between Inter and Manchester City.
   
A grand ceremony was held in the festival area on the European side of the city along the shores of the Marmara Sea.
 
Turkish Football Federation president Mehmet Buyukeksi and UEFA Champions League final ambassador Hamit Altintop, a former Turkish football player, carried the trophy and put it on display on the stage.
   
SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAMIT ALTINTOP, Former Turkish football player
"This final will be a source of motivation for the next generations. I hope it will be an exciting and nice final. I hope football will win."
   
Soon after the ceremony, football fans gathered to have a photo with the trophy that is exhibited as part of the festival that runs through Sunday.
   
The jerseys of captains of 32 teams that played in the Champions League this season are also on display.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): EMRE TURHAN, Official anchorman of the festival
"First of all, we will be having fun here for four days. At the moment, the trophy is being carried to its exhibition place. This is an iconic moment alone."
   
Concerts and competitions will also take place as part of the program, including a tournament featuring some football legends including Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka and Patrick Vieira, according to local media.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): YAGIZ KAHRAMAN, DJ, and radio host
"Many of the footballers I also admire are going to come here and play with the Turkish legends."
 
Manchester City will face Inter Milan on Saturday.
   
SOUNDBITE 4 (Turkish): EMRE TURHAN, Official anchorman of the festival
"That will be the focus of the entire world, of Istanbul or Türkiye. Besides, a 90-minute match with a four-day festival is probably something worthy of UEFA's greatness."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)