Gdansk schools benefit from Euros

The most important part of the European Championships has been the building of new community-use pitches, according to Zbigniew Weinar.

Weinar, head of the Gdansk mayor’s office for sports and the Euro 2012 affairs, said 16 multi-purpose pitches have been created in schools and already played host to competitions for local children.

“The legacy, apart from the investments, is the social work that we’ve done,” Weinar said.

“For example, we’ve formed a special community where representatives of local business together with the city have a project to build 16 multi-functional pitches in 16 schools.

“About 70 schools applied with a programme of about how they were going to use it, not only for the school but also for the local community and the 16 best programmes were granted such a pitch. Two-thirds paid by the business, one-third by the city.

“At the same time, we’ve had loads of competitions for girls, for disabled people, so football has made people get involved.

“And with more sport, there is less crime and children are more active. This is the most important legacy that will stay here.”

Weinar hopes a decent performance by the Polish team in the competition will encourage more enthusiasm for the sport in the future.

“When the host nation is playing well, then the enthusiasm stays so we need the Polish team to go as far as possible hopefully to the quarter-final and it is possible,” he said.

“If Poland comes second in the group then they will play the quarter-final in Gdansk.”

Poland began their Group A campaign with a 1-1 draw against Greece on Friday.