EURO 2012: Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for sport, sends message to fans and teams
On the eve of the opening of the EURO 2012, Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner responsible for sport, has sent this message to football fans and the teams competing in the tournament, "This is the moment that millions of football fans all over Europe have been waiting for. Many thousands of supporters will be in Poland and Ukraine to cheer on their teams.
I am sure there will be a fantastic atmosphere in all the stadia hosting the matches. I wish all the fans an enjoyable tournament and I hope they can send out a message that football is about passion, not prejudice. I congratulate UEFA President Michel Platini for the organisation of the event and I wish all the teams taking part the very best of luck. They also have a responsibility to ensure that EURO 2012 is remembered for all the right reasons – for thrilling matches, goals, skill and, above all, fair-play. May the best team win!" "
The opening ceremony of UEFA EURO 2012 and first match – Poland v Greece – will take place in the National Stadium in Warsaw. More than 800 volunteer performers from 63 countries will take part in the opening ceremony, devised by Italian creative director Marco Balich. Hungarian pianist Adam Gyorgy will perform a piece by the 19th century Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. More than 150 million TV viewers are expected to watch the opening match and ceremony. Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski will attend the opening event. Commissioner Vassiliou also intends to attend one of the later matches taking place in Poland.
