EURO 2012 in Poland as a catalyst for change and testing ground for new urban management tools

摘要

UEFA decision from April 2007 to grant the hosting of EURO 2012 to Poland and Ukraine came not only as a significant benefit but also as a considerable challenge for Polish Authorities. The enormous organisational task including construction of new stadiums in four major cities as well as modernisation of transportation and urban infrastructure has to be accomplished in a relatively short time span. Not surprisingly the authorities branded EURO 2012 as a "civilizational project" considering the championship as a stimulus for the development of the country. A series of special legal, organisational and fiscal mechanisms have been implemented in order to facilitate provision of the required development. Municipal governments of the participating cities are also trying to take maximum advantage of the given chance by managing complex infrastructural projects and promoting designated areas in close proximity to the stadiums. Yet the key question of long-term economic and social effects after EURO2012 remains open for debate. The presentation focuses on the overview of special legislation, organization and financing of EURO 2012 development agencies. The key development projects in major cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Poznan will also be discussed in the context of management, implementation and problems concerning large-scale complex urban projects as well as their relationship with their regional and local context.