Champions League final is stadium's 'crowning achievement'

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Champions League trophy at the Millennium Stadium
Image caption,
The match will be played on 3 June 2017 at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium

Cardiff's successful bid to host the Champions League final in 2017 is the Millennium Stadium's "crowning achievement," its owners have said.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) owns the stadium and group chief executive Roger Lewis welcomed the arrival of club football's biggest matches.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) led the bid to host the final with support from the WRU.

Meanwhile, £500,000 will be pumped into grassroots football on the back of it.

Mr Lewis told BBC Wales: "The last 16 years of work by countless men and women throughout Wales within government, within the city council, within the Welsh Rugby Union, within the stadium to create this for Wales - it's truly iconic.

Media caption,

In a warm-up to the big event, the trophy was at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday

"To be given this event is an extraordinary achievement for Wales.

Mr Lewis said Cardiff Airport played a key role in securing the event and new facilities will be built, as they were for the Nato Summit in 2014.

When the decision was announced by Uefa on Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron said it was "fantastic news".

The match will be played on Saturday, 3 June while the Women's Champions League final will be held two days earlier at Cardiff City Stadium.

Image source, BBC/Thinkstock

The FAW's chief executive Jonathan Ford said hosting the final would provide a financial boost for grassroots football.

"Uefa consider the Champions League final on a par with the European Championships," he said.

"The staging of the event is just the start of it. Our job is to ensure that we utilise the opportunity for football in Wales, for Wales, for sport.