UEFA President Michel Platini has invited everybody to enjoy the upcoming celebration of football during the Euro 2012 European Football Championship in Ukraine and Poland, which kicks off on June 8, reads a statement posted on UEFA's official Web site.
"This, the first UEFA European Championship final round to be played in Eastern Europe, marks a milestone in the history of UEFA’s competitions. The work of the organizers must now be matched by the commitment of the players, the attitude of the coaches, the excellence of the referees and, above all, the passion of the fans, whose contribution to the beautiful game is so vital. I wish you all an exciting UEFA Euro 2012 and look forward to sharing some unforgettable moments with you in Poland and Ukraine," he wrote in the latest edition of the official UEFA publication UEFA.direct.
Platini noted that the challenge on preparations for the tournament "has been proudly met, despite the various difficulties that have cropped up along the way."
"Stadiums have been built or renovated, airports, transport systems and hotels developed and modernized and all the necessary improvements made. In short, both countries are now ready to host our continent’s biggest football tournament in conditions worthy of an event of this magnitude," he said.
"This, in itself, is extremely encouraging and all the work, effort, discussions, patience and goodwill it has taken to get us this far should be acknowledged. But this is neither the time nor the place for analysis. Right now, it is all about looking forward to watching Europe’s best national teams in action, being bowled over by the feats of the players and sharing the excitement of the supporters – in other words, getting swept up in a great month-long international celebration of football," he said.
