Wrocław awaiting football fans

At least 20 thousand football fans from the Czech Republic and Russia will come to Wrocław for UEFA Euro 2012 TM. Such are the estimates prepared by the representatives of the Fans' Embassies of these countries, who met with the tournament’s organisers in the capital of Lower Silesia as part of a special series of workshops.

Apart from the Czechs and Russians, other group matches held in Wrocław will feature the teams from Greece and Poland. The only players to enter the pitch of the brand new City Stadium (capacity of 43,000 viewers) three times will be those led by coach Michal Bilek. They will be followed by around 10,000 fans – estimates Bara Jindrova from the Czech Fans’ Embassy. – Preparations for the Euro look very professional in Wrocław. It’s a great city and it’s ready to welcome a large number of fans – claims Jindrova. Another thing that can encourage the supporters of Petr Cech and Milan Baros to come to Wrocław will be the fact that their idols will be staying in the very centre of the city, in the prestigious “Monopol” hotel (hotel guests included actress Marlene Dietrich, painter Pablo Picasso and the famous Polish film director and Academy Award winner Andrzej Wajda), and that they will be training in the facility of Poland’s vice-champion – Śląsk Wrocław.

A similar number of fans (around 8 -10 thousand) is expected to come from Russia. Dmitri Stratievski from the Russian Fans’ Embassy claims that most of the fans will represent the middle class. – One can expect that, apart from visiting the stadium, they will want to spend some time in the Fan Zone, in pubs and in restaurants, but at the same time they will not be interested in spending a whole lot of money – he said. Apart from the representatives of the middle class, some rich Russians will also come to Wrocław for EURO 2012 – We already know that they are booking places in the Wrocław airport – confirmed Stratievski.

The number of Greek fans interested in visiting Wrocław is the most difficult to estimate. However, it is clear that those who will come to support the 2004 European Champions will be enthusiastic. – They are very much interested in the matches and they react very spontaneously – said Servet Kovaci, a Greek national living in Wrocław. He added that some of the Greeks visiting Poland might come from Germany, where they live permanently.

The city of Wrocław, which has been praised for the progress in preparations by the representatives of football fans’ organisations since the December draw of UEFA Euro 2012 TM final groups, is working very hard to welcome them in style. – We are now focusing on inviting the fans and establishing what they need and expect – said Hanna Domagała, head of the Wrocław Euro 2012 Office. Some of the plans include promotional activities during trade shows in the Czech Republic and in Moscow.

Text: Przemek Pozowski / www.wroclove2012.com

UEFA Euro 2012 TM matches in Wrocław:

08.06.2012 (Friday)

Russia – Czech Republic (8.45pm)

12.06.2012 (Tuesday)

Greece – Czech Republic (6.00pm)

16.06.2012 (Saturday)

Czech Republic - Poland (8.45pm)

Dodano: 02.02.2012

tags: Fans' Embassies, football fans, UEFA Euro 2012