Intrepid abseilers scrub stadium clean for final
CLIMBERS have tackled one of the most dangerous cleaning jobs in the world – 300ft up in the air – in time for the Champions League final.
Abseilers armed with hoses scaled Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium – which will be renamed the National Stadium of Wales for the game – to make sure it is squeaky-clean in time for the final watched by millions of people.
The specially trained team were dangling upside-down from ropes to get to the toughest places to clean.
They wiped down and polished up the 74,500-seat stadium ready for European football’s glittering showpiece.
And it will need to be looking its best because the game is expected to be watched by 180 million people in more than 200 countries.
The cleaners, armed with a jet washer pump, blasted away the grime from the walls and masts.
Sean Turley, from Summit Rope Access, said: “You have to have a good head for heights to get the job done.
“We specialise in working at heights. We have worked on the Principality Stadium for about 17 years, more or less since it opened, so we are very used to it now.
“Everyone has specialist training before they start working for us, including an course.”
Some 2km of ropes and rigging are involved in the cleaning of each mast.
Principality Stadium manager Mark Williams said: “The mast maintenance attracts attention as passersby marvel at the abseilers at work.
“The guys have carried out all high-level painting and cleaning for as long as the stadium has been standing and they always do a great job.”
Build-up to the June 3 showpiece event will ramp up today when First Minister Carwyn Jones travels to Switzerland to pick up the glittering silverware which will be presented to the winning team in Cardiff.
On his return, a parade will take place in Cardiff city centre to welcome the Champions League trophy to the capital.
The draw for the semi-final takes place at 11am today in Switzerland.
The trophy will be won by either Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Real Madrid or Monaco.
After the draw Carwyn Jones will be joined by former Wales footballer Ian Rush and the pair will return to Wales with the trophy in hand. industrial abseiling
The trip to Wales is being billed by organisers as a “legendary journey”.
Once the trophy arrives in Wales, it will go on a tour of the country, taking in more than 20 venues.
The stops include sports clubs, schools and town centres.
It will return to Cardiff on May 9 for an event at Whitchurch High School.
It will remain in Wales until the Champions League final takes place on June 3.
Today’s parade will start at 4.45pm at Cardiff Castle. From there, it will be taken down High Street along St Mary Street into Guildhall Place and then into the Principality Stadium.
Once the day’s events have finished, the trophy will be taken to Swansea for its first stop.
To find out more about the trophy tour, visit www.cardiff2017. wales