FEATURED NEWS ITEM

Prepared and Distributed by the Polonia Media Network

POLAND'S PLUS AND

MINUSES FOR EURO 2012

Warsaw (PMN)--Warsaw's national stadium is close to completion after an startling investment of half of $647 million. In just six months time, the venue will host the opening game of Euro 2012, where Poland meets Greece.

Daria Kulinska of the National Sports Center said, "This is one of the most modern stadiums in Europe. Our colleagues from the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) call it The Big Baby."

Euro 2012 will be the biggest ever sports event organized in Poland. The country's infrastructure has developed in leaps and bounds since it was chosen to co-host the tournament in 2007. But it has been a race against time from the off. Billions of dollars have been spent as a result of joint investments from the government and European funds and undertaking the challenge has been a gigantic feat for organizers.

A key concern, though, is Poland's lack of high speed railway lines and due to maintenance neglect, the top speed of its older trains is often under 62 miles per hour. Modernizing the network is now crucial and, of course, time is of the essence.

Five years ago the Polish government promised to build around a 620 miles of new highways and over 1200 miles of expressways. Bureaucracy and the global economic crisis however, have both played a part in halting progress.

On the plus side, knowing the best way to get about will be easier thanks to a new, multimedia app. The smart phone device will enable visitors to plan their journey in just a few easy clicks.

Likewise, visitors will not have a problem finding accommodations, because there are plenty of hotels and they will be able to watch the matches in truly unique and beautiful stadiums.