Marek Ziolkowski, Poland's ambassador to the Ukraine, confirmed yesterday that his country will launch a joint bid with the Ukraine to host the 2012 European Football Championships.
"The Polish government has agreed to back this idea," declared Marek Ziolkowski.
The agreement follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to dismiss a Russian Ukrainian cooperation. Putin claimed that both Russia and the Ukraine were still inadequately developed to host such a contest.
If plans for a Polish Ukrainian alliance were to go ahead, the championship could be a significant catalyst in defrosting relations between the two countries in the new Post Soviet climate.
Although Poland's relationship with the Ukraine is considerably less volatile than the Korea/Japan example of 2002's World Cup, the legacy of the Second World War remains a touchy one amongst some of the older generation. However, for the younger generation, such issues are increasingly viewed as 'water under the bridge.' A Polish Ukrainian Championship could indeed be a great prospect.
All the same, many Poles take a somewhat wry view of the announcement.
"It'll never happen" says Sebastian Kasina, a young Cracovian entrepeneur. "They had this idea to do the Winter Olympics in Zakopane some years ago, but nothing ever came of it. Think of the 'New City' development at the Cracow railway station. It took ten years for things to start - they'll find any reason to say work can't begin.... Besides, we don't have big enough stadiums."
Mariusz Nowak, a photographer and web-designer agrees: ''If the Pope comes to Poland the government will find 20 million zloty but otherwise? No."
|