KHOBAR – Poland's Ambassador to the Kingdom, Adam Kulach, on Sunday urged Saudi businessmen to invest in hotel infrastructure projects in six Polish cities that have been selected to host the European Football Championship in 2012 (EUFA Euro 2012). He made the appeal during a presentation before officials of the Asharqia Chambers and businessmen in the Eastern Province. Poland and Ukraine are jointly hosting the football championship event, dubbed as the biggest sporting event to take place in Poland. Poland, which joined the European Union in 2004, has embarked on massive development projects, including tourism-related industries, such as, hotels, sports centers, roads, airports, and conference facilities. “Although the construction of the hotels and infrastructure projects will be supported by other EU members, Saudi investors are welcome to participate in these projects. There are already a number of Saudi companies that have invested in our country,” Kulach said. He said about 100 new hotels, including their amenities, are envisioned for construction to accommodate the expected surge of visitors who will watch the football championship games. He said the new hotels will serve future tourists who will be visiting Poland. In addition to the new hotels, three new stadiums will be constructed, three existing stadiums will be modernized, and camps for the participating teams, airport and road facilities, and conference buildings will be built. The cost of these projects in preparation for the hosting of the European championship games are €126 billion for road and bridges construction, €121 billion for site preparation of the venues of the games, and one billion euros for airport renovation. The six Polish cities selected to host the championship games are Gdansk, Warszawa, Wroctaw, Poznan, Krakow and Chorzow. A special company, called PL.2012 Ltd., has been established by the Polish Ministry of Sports and Tourism, to manage the construction of the hotels and other infrastructure projects. The company is 100 percent owned by the government. Poland is also hosting other international sporting events. In July 5-7 this year, the Men's European Basketball Championship, the Women's European Volleyball Championship, and the Tall Ship Race will be held in Gdynia. The Women's European Basketball Championship and the Men's World Volleyball Championship will be held in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The biggest of the championship games so far is the UEFA Euro 2012.
