“Our joint bid was originally a Ukrainian initiative. We accepted the proposal to play together and host Europe’s best teams in six and half year’s time. Despite strong competition, the Polish/Ukrainian bid to host the event won through to the final three; the other finalists being Italy and the joint Hungarian/Croatian bids.
“Documentation for the first phase was 800 pages, and the technical part of the bid prepared by BPCC member KPMG and declarations from presidents and governments. With a total population of 85 million in the two countries where football is absolutely the number one sport, popular backing for the bid runs at 80%. At a time when Europe is unifying economically, politically and militarily, it makes sense to hold the championships in New Europe, where the event has never been held.
“In terms of what the winning bid needs – roads, airports and hotels – we have practically nothing. This is our advantage. We’d have to build these anyway. The EU’s budget for 2007-2013 foresees funds earmarked for infrastructure. And the new Polish PM has pledged that within the next four years Poland will have a national stadium and four other modern stadiums. This sports base will be sufficient for Poland to host the event. Selection of architects and builders will be carried out through public tenders. We’d welcome participation of UK companies in this project.
“Apart from roads – by 2013, Poland should have 3,000 km of motorways – the airport infrastructure will need upgrading. The event will mean 500,000 extra tourists flying in and out of the country. This is a need and a business opportunity, as is the provision of accommodation for players and spectators – from five-star hotels to student hostels. Another issue is the safety of teams and spectators. Our efforts in this area have been highly assessed by UEFA.”
“Building a national stadium plus four others will cost €500 million. The total programme will be €4 billion. This is a sizable amount for the state budget. Municipal budgets, EU structural funds and subsidies, international private sector funding and domestic funding – from lotteries and betting – will help.”
Six Polish cities are interested in hosting matches – Warsaw, Gdask, Pozna, Wrocaw, Kraków and Chorzów. In Ukraine it will be Kiev, Donetsk, Dniepropetrovsk and Lvov. Ukraine also needs airports and far more new hotels than Poland, plus roads between cities; it is a country 40% larger than Poland but has even fewer roads. The bid has full support from President Yushchenko, a special decree has been passed for national and local government to prepare for hosting the championships.
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Olkowicz assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the rival bids. “Hungary had lost twice before, jointly with Austria for 2004; on its own, it lost by one vote for 2008. They are not quitters. But it’s a small country of 10 million and Croatia is even smaller. Italy is the unquestioned leader of football. The prime minister has his own club; the league is fanatically supported. But Italy has already hosted the event twice. The decision on Euro 2012 will not be only taken on sports criteria, but on the basis of a pan-European political and economic dimension.
Neil Logan Green, a partner at Eversheds, shared lessons learned from London’s successful Olympic bid: “The depth and quality of the bid document was key to British success, as was the demonstration of the legacy benefits post-2012. There is a direct parallel between Stratford (where the Games will be staged) and issues facing Poland. The strongest argument in favour of the London bid was the work needed for the redevelopment and regeneration of 850 acres of land in the East End of London. The Games will give this part of London new road and rail links, a new stadium, velodrome, swimming pool, and an athletes’ village for 17,000 people - later to become 9,000 affordable new homes. The venue will be developed using Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and will cost L2.5 billion. Money will also come from central government, local taxes and the lottery. Groups of banks will come forward with groups of developers to deliver these projects; the usual detailed public bidding process will apply”.
Duncan McLean, a partner with architects The Miller Partnership, spoke about the role of stadium design in winning bids. The firm is currently working on several premiership stadiums including the expansion of Old Trafford to boost capacity to 75,000. McLean noted from the Scottish FA’s 2008 bid experience the need to ensure the correct balance of infrastructure and facilities. Successful bids should provide a legacy element. He mentioned sustainability as a key criterion for success: “Club venues must be designed not just for use on 25 Saturdays a year, but to provide revenues seven days a week; they may have hospitality and conference facilities. Community involvement is essential - stadiums can offer facilities for young people to learn in a friendly, sporting environment.”
“Over the next six months we will describe in detail every activity connected with the preparations. UEFA inspectors will visit Poland in February and September and will also visit Ukraine, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. At the UEFA congress in March all three bids will be presented, and on 7 December there will be a final presentation of the bids, then a secret ballot the following day”, said Olkowicz.
The BPCC wants the Polish-Ukrainian bid to succeed and offers the PZPN the experience of its members who helped win the Olympics for London.
Also see UEFA EURO 2012 - unrealistic dream or economic chance?
www.bpcc.org.pl/UEFA2012
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