A Polish Auditor has claimed that the running of the Euro 2012 championships may be disrupted due to delays in preparation. The championship is set to start on the 8th of June 2012, but there are fears that the country will not be ready and that the games will be disrupted.
Concerns over the Polish and Ukraine’s tournaments preparations were raised recently as a result of a report from the country’s top auditing agency. The major concerns were for the countries transportation systems, with many planned new roads in and around the stadiums being delayed, whilst rail services and airports have also hit delays in preparation. Both countries whole transport infrastructures are believed to be way behind schedule and there are fears that it could threaten their ability to co-host the tournament.
Indeed, this is not the first time that Poland and the Ukraine have been criticised and doubts have been thrown into the air over their ability to host the tournament. Technical problems, shortages of funds and legal issues have all recently marred the countries preparations for the tournament. Sebb Blatter has recently stated that the countries could lose their rights to hold the games, due to delays with preparations.
Despite the claims, the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk has come out and stated that his country will deliver on most of its promises and that the tournament will be ready come the 8th June 2012. Doubts had also been raised over one of the tournaments stadia, in Kyiv, Ukraine, where costs have risen from £150 million to £500 million in only three years, and is reportedly two months behind schedule. Uefa General Secretary, Gianni Infantino has also been quick to dismiss the idea that the tournament will be ready and insists that the stadium will definitely be ready.
With only a year to go, it seems unlikely that the tournament will change its host countries, but it is clear that both the Ukraine and Poland face an uphill struggle to be ready for the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Eastern Europe.
