By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – Poland’s new National Stadium, due to stage the opening match of the 2012 European Championships, has finally been cleared as safe to play its showpiece inaugural fixture against Portugal on February 29.
Fresh doubts were recently expressed over whether the $641 million (£409 million/€493 million) Warsaw venue would be ready after the Polish Super Cup on February 11 had to be postponed because of safety concerns that should have been resolved months ago, prompting angry scenes.
Construction delays forced the stadium’s manager to step down earlier this month but the Mayor of Warsaw, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and local police have now given the go ahead after final technical issues had been ironed out.
Besides the opening Euro 2012 match on June 8 between Poland and Greece, the stadium will host four other games in the continental tournament including the second semi-final.
The Olympic Stadium in Kiev, the main venue in Ukraine which is co-hosting with Poland, is already operational.
The final will be held there on July 1.
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