UEFA president visits Warsaw

UEFA president Michel Platini has visited the Polish capital Warsaw. Mr Platini met with the Polish president Bronisław Komorowski, and visited the city's National Stadium – one of eight venues that will be staging matches at the UEFA EURO 2012 final tournament in Poland and Ukraine in two years' time.

Mr Platini was accompanied at the meeting with the Polish president by Polish Football Federation (PZPN) president Grzegorz Lato and UEFA EURO 2012 ambassador Zbigniew Boniek. In addition to Mr Komorowski, Poland's minister of sport and tourism Adam Giersz and mayor of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, were also present.

The UEFA president and Mr Komorowski then undertook a tour of Warsaw by helicopter to get an overview of several construction sites related to the staging of UEFA EURO 2012. Mr Komorowski expressed Poland's pride at co-hosting such an important tournament which, he said, would leave a fantastic heritage for the Polish people.

Warsaw will host three UEFA EURO 2012 group stage fixtures, including the opening Group A game featuring Poland, a quarter-final and a semi-final. With regard to the country's other venues, Wroclaw and Poznan will host three group stage matches, while Gdansk will stage three group stage fixtures and a quarter-final. After their opening group game in Warsaw, Poland will also play their second group match in the capital, and their third in Wroclaw.

"I am very pleased to be in Warsaw again," said Mr Platini, who welcomed the opportunity to speak with the Polish president. "Preparations are progressing well. Both the government and specific institutions are doing what they are supposed to do. Everything is proceeding in the right direction.

"President Komorowski told me that EURO 2012 is an opportunity for increasing the development of Poland," the UEFA president continued. "Let us be aware that when the tournament ends, what was built and done will remain.

"I can only congratulate both the government and PZPN for their efforts and meeting the deadlines. I am sure that UEFA EURO 2012 will be a great celebration of football."

Minister Adam Giersz said: "We talked about the prospects for a good tournament which would promote Poland and Polish football. We want to have not only a great UEFA EURO 2012 tournament, but also high-quality matches in marvellous stadiums.

"Each key project is being carried out according to the plan," he added. "Thanks to EURO 2012, we are speeding up Poland's development."

"We are extremely happy to host the UEFA president in Poland," said Grzegorz Lato. "In one year, on 6 September, we play against Germany to open the National Stadium. I believe that this will be an astonishing event."

Lato's fellow Polish football great Zbigniew Boniek also appreciated the visit of Michel Platini – a former team-mate at Italian club Juventus – and said he was happy in his role as an ambassador to contribute towards the common goal of organising a memorable EURO final round in two years' time.