Hundreds of kilometers of freeways, a modern railway system, myriads of hotels and the most modern sports stadiums: winning the right to host the Euro 2012 soccer championships is set to spur development in Poland and Ukraine.

From the economic point of view, Poland and Ukraine are the perfect choice. Together their markets total over 80 million residents. Not everyone is aware of the fact that every eighth European is a Pole or Ukrainian. Furthermore, both countries are developing faster than Western European countries. That is why the initial outburst of joy after being chosen to host the event was followed by concrete declarations. The government insists that there will be enough money for the event. Polish President Lech Kaczyński said that the funds will come from, notably, the national budget, local governments and private entrepreneurs. And releasing them into the market should result in increased profits, taking into account the country's solid economy. "In five years time we should be 30 percent richer," said Kaczyński.

Poland will have at its disposal some 37 billion euros provided by the European Union, or around zl.142 billion. This is more than 10 percent of Poland's GDP. Such an increase in investment will boost Poland's economic growth. It is estimated that Poland's GDP may grow by 4-5 percent with such a boost.

The transport ministry has announced that Poland will gain 636 kilometers of freeways; 2,200 kilometers of expressways will be built or modernized. Twelve Polish airports will be modernized. Today only Warsaw and Cracow offer connections with the majority of European and world cities. A second terminal at Warsaw Okęcie airport will be opened to serve up to 8 million passengers annually. Wrocław's airport will be enlarged, thanks to which it will be able to serve a larger number of passengers and open flights to new destinations. By 2012, over 1,500 kilometers of railway tracks will be modernized, mainly international connections and lines between major railway junctions. Thanks to Euro 2012, Polish railways will become faster, safer and more passenger-friendly.

Poland will spend over 2 billion euros alone on building new stadiums in Gdańsk, Warsaw and Wrocław. The facilities in Chorzów, Cracow and Poznań will be modernized. A National Stadium is to be built in Warsaw and will have room for 60,000. The project is worth zl.1.2 billion, while the stadium itself over zl.650 million. It is here that the European championships will open, and also where a quarterfinal and a semifinal will take place. All the stadiums are to be ready by 2011.

"I have good news: we have found zl.1 billion in the Ministry of Transport for building sport facilities, the most important of which is the stadium in Warsaw. Poland can afford Euro 2012. This is a beautiful moment. At last Poland is the organizer of a large sports event!," said Finance Minister Zyta Gilowska.

The zl.1 billion is to be provided by an amendment to the law on games of chance that the ministry plans to draft by the end of April. If the Sejm passes it, there will be zl.250 million for organizing the championships between 2008-2011 every year. The money will probably come from a new type of game, the so called video lottery-gaming machines joined into a network.

Analysts and stock market investors have welcomed the success of Poland and Ukraine in winning the right to organize the championships. On hearing the news, investors rushed to buy shares in companies that might benefit from organizing Euro 2012. The Warsaw Stock Exchange's WIG index easily passed the 60,000-point mark, setting a new record. Companies linked with the building sector experienced an unusual increase in share prices. It is this sector that is most likely to benefit from Euro 2012, both producers and suppliers of building materials. Aggregate, steel, concrete and cement-the demand will be enormous. And although supposedly the new freeways and roads would have been built anyway, Euro 2012 will speed things up. What might prove a hindrance to the quick building of roads is the lack of workers and problems with building materials supply. Due to massive emigration of Poles to the "old" EU countries, building companies complain of a lack of staff.

Euro 2012 will have an enormous influence on the real estate market in Poland. On the one hand, the infrastructure will improve. Numerous new facilities will appear, such as hotels. On the other hand, a rise in building costs is inevitable. Developers building houses will find themselves in the most difficult situation. If anyone hoped that the prices of apartments in Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław, the Tricity and Cracow would fall, they have to think again.

The tourism sector will earn millions from organizing Euro 2012. In 2006, 15.7 million tourists visited Poland, every one of whom spent $167 on average. It is estimated that the additional income will be at least zl.500 million. This is a cautious estimate, as football fans are not among the most thrifty.

The European championships are also a stroke of luck for advertising companies. Experts are certain that Euro 2012 will benefit this sector, which has been doing well for the last few years. According to ZenithOptimedia, in Portugal, the country that staged Euro 2004, spending on advertising rose by 7 percent to reach 907 million euros, although the market increased only by 2.2 percent the year before.

Poland has been given a golden opportunity. Organizing the championships could mean five years of unprecedented prosperity. Thousands of new jobs will appear in the building market, services, trade, tourism and other sectors. Along with rapid economic growth, salaries will go up and unemployment will fall. Poland is destined for success.


In connection with Euro 2012, the following facilities will appear in Poland:
- around 650 kilometers of public freeways
- over 450 kilometers of freeways built by private companies
- some 2,200 kilometers of expressways
- the National Stadium in Warsaw and stadiums in Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław and Cracow
- 12 Polish airports will be renovated
- over 100 hotels, motels and boardinghouses, offering 80,000 beds in Warsaw, 23 facilities in Wrocław, 70 in Poznań and 36 in Gdańsk
- over 1,500 kilometers of railways will be modernized and new connections will be launched.