Euro-2012 News Online

Deputies of the Polish Seym have assessed preparation course of the country for Europe Football Championship final 2012. Legislators had opportunity to hear the information about work of the officials from the Ministry of sport and tourism in Poland, “PL.2012″ Union and Football Federation of Poland (PZPN), responsible for the Championship organization.

“We need the Parliament to help us in solving several problems, for example, attraction to Poland fans  from countries other than European Union. I’m sure we’ll cope with all of preparation issues in due time”, - declared PZPN President Gzhegosh Ljato.
In his turn Marchin Herra, chairman of “PL.2012″ Union notes that organization of the third important sport event in the world will allow Poland to carry out “a big epoch-making leap”, which will assist to increasing investment appeal of Poland, as well as it might change the general shape of the country.
“I’m glad that there’s cooperation with all interested bodies. Thanks to this we in many ways manage to outstrip the schedule set by UEFA”, -underlines Mr. Herra. The official briefed that in the last few months they succeeded in significant increase of preparation pace for the Championship.
By his estimates, still there is a problem with roads and tracks construction. Therefore there are no fears concerning stadiums construction or hotel network for the Championship opening, sums up chairman of “PL.2012″Union.
Minister of sport and tourism in Poland Miroslaw Dzewecky has notified Parliament officials that because of global economic slump UEFA’s reduced certain requirements to the Championship organization. In particular, the European football officials have reconsidered their own view concerning significant number of top-level hotels. “Responsible UEFA officials have recognized that there’s no such need. It was found out, that this sphere’s pretty good”, - states the Minister. However at the same time he highlights in other areas of preparation Nyon requirements haven’t been lowered down.

The Polish official also informs that all cities are going on with preparation for the Championship, despite of UEFA’s selection in May. “The government will continue financing stadiums construction according to the agreements already signed. Many objects are undergoing construction related to Euro-2012, and will serve Polish citizens for years”, - noted Minister M. Dzewecky.

During Seym discussions of Euro-2012 organization issues there was spread information that over 300 Championship projects with total cost about EUR 20 bln are being implemented. Considerable part of this sum - about EUR 6-7 bln- will be covered due to the European Union financing.

Warsaw’s finished first stage of National stadium construction with 1,5 months ahead the schedule.

As informs PL 2012 Company which is coordinating preparation of Poland to host the Championship, Pol-Aqua company’s been implementing the first stage of erection works since September last year.

The Company dismantled the stands of the previous “Decade” stadium, took out above 300 000 m3 of the ground and rammed in 15.000 piles for the basement of new National stadium.

According to Pl 2012 data, during rush periods at the construction site 150 workers and some dozens of heavy equipment have been working simultaneously. Besides every day 90 trucks came in and out.

The first stage has cost above $ 30 mln.

Thanks to advance in construction schedule Pol-Aqua received additional offer to partially prepare the territory under stadium’s main slab concreting (it’s $1.5 mln).

Poland will look for investors to construct hotels for Europe Football Championship final 2012 in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Quatar.

This region has lots of money and significant interest in constructing hotels in Poland, declares Minister of sports and tourism in Poland Miroslaw Dziewecky. Network of luxurious Four Seasons hotels is considered as one of possible partners, the Minister adds.

Dziewecky has noted, that Arabs can not only invest in hotels construction, but also in nearby stadiums infrastructure arrangement, in Warsaw in particular.

Football Federation of Poland (PZPN) calls it “nonsense” information spread in mass-media on Europe Football Championship final 2012 to be hosted in 6 Polish and 2 Ukrainian cities.

“We aren’t going to comment on frenzy emerging in mass-media” - said PZPN press-secretary Zbignew Kozmynski commenting the article edited by Polish Gazeta Wyborcza.

He noted it’s UEFA that defines which Ukrainian and Polish cities are going to host Euro-2012 matches. At the same time Mr. Kozmynski highlighted that corresponding decisions will most probably be adopted in May, this year.

Even more so, as claims PZPN press-secretary, UEFA can delay decision ratification for later date, as it happened with announcement of winner countries in bids contest for hosting Euro-2012.

Euro-2012 may be held in six cities of Poland and only in two Ukrainian cities, as informs Polish edition of Gazeta Wyborcza.

UEFA has to make public its decision in May: “If nothing extraordinary happens the Championship will be held in Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, Wroclaw, Krakow and Khozhuw” - claims Gazeta Wyborcza in UEFA. “Well, UEFA doesn’t worry about Poland” - assures Minster of Sport in Poland Miroslaw Drziewecki.

As is stated in newspaper, only Kiev and Donetsk can host Euro-2012 matches. Dnepropetrovsk, Kharkov, Odessa and Lvov won’t cope with UEFA’s requirements.

Regardless of praises given to Ukraine by UEFA inspector David Taylor, the edition is skeptical: “Ukrainians try hard, but Mr. Taylor just encouraged them up”.