As two countries of soaring peaks, lush valleys and sparkling lakes, Switzerland and Austria know all about handling tourist throngs, whether for summer relaxation or winter sports.

But hosting Euro 2008 will stretch both countries, whatever their reputations for infrastructure and hospitality. Austria has not held an event of such magnitude since the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. For Switzerland, “the only comparison is with last year’s Rolling Stones concert or the World Economic Forum”, says Benedikt Weibl, head of the Swiss organising committee. Neither exactly matches up to the estimated 2m-5m foreigners expected to descend on the countries the next year.