- Title: Colombia prepares memorial service for victims of plane crash
- Date: 30th November 2016
- Summary: MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA (NOVEMBER 30, 2016) (REUTERS) INTERIOR OF ATANASIO GIRARDOT STADIUM WITH BLEACHERS AND FIELD MILITARY POLICE OFFICER PLAYING BUGLE VARIOUS OF MILITARY POLICE BAND PRACTISING MUSIC FEET OF MILITARY POLICE AS THEY MARCH ONTO FIELD, PRACTISING MUSIC FIRST FEW MILITARY POLICE OFFICERS LEADING BAND ONTO FIELD ORGANIZERS LOOKING ON MILITARY POLICE BAND MARCHING ONTO FIELD STADIUM OFFICIALS SETTING UP RODS
- Embargoed: 15th December 2016 20:01
- Keywords: Colombia Medellin Brazil Chapecoense soccer crash memorial
- Location: MEDELLIN, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA
- City: MEDELLIN, ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Reuters ID: LVA0015AN1QO7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At 6:45 p.m. (2345 GMT) on Wednesday (November 30), the Chapecoense soccer team expected to play their biggest game ever: the Copa Sudamericana final. Instead, at that exact time, the stadium where they were going to play is holding a memorial service in honour of the 71 people, including players, coaches, journalists and flight crew, who died when the plane carrying them to the match crashed.
As the military police band rehearsed their performance, lawn keepers mowed the field and organizers looked on at Medellin's Atanasio Girardot stadium.
Stadium logistics co-ordinator Andres Garcia said organizers expect the stadium to be at full capacity.
"Everything is guaranteed. We are expecting about 45,000 people, the entire stadium capacity, and relatives of the Brazilian team players. We hope to offer a nice homage which they deserve and to stand in solidarity with the soccer world over the pain of a tragedy like this," he said.
The regional final was due to be played between Colombia's Atletico Nacional and Brazil's Chapecoense.
Now, the Colombian team wants the trophy to be given to Chapecoense in honour of the dead.
"As far as we are concerned," the team said, "Chapecoense will forever be the champions of the Copa Sudamericana Cup 2016."
According to the final communications, the plane's pilot had radioed he was running out of fuel and in an emergency.
Monday night's disaster killed 71 people and sent shock waves round the global soccer world.
Only six on board the LAMIA Bolivia charter flight survived: three members of the Chapecoense soccer squad, a journalist and two crew members.
Soccer-mad Brazil declared three days of mourning.
In the small city of Chapeco in remote southern Brazil, schools cancelled classes, and businesses closed and crying fans vowed to keep vigil until the bodies of their idols returned to their city. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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