Dear BEM Blog Readers!

In the latest issue of the Business English Magazine you can read about the upcoming FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2022 inRussia and Qatar, as well as the London Olympics in 2012. But what about the event closest to the hearts of Poles crazy for football – the  EURO 2012 semifinals in Poland?

Well, it seems that the groundwork for the infrastracture has been all laid out and progresses more or less to the UEFA plan and following the set standards.

Yet there is a big issue just around the corner: how to get in to the event in the first place? It will be no easy feat for the football fans hungry for fun and cheering for their favorite team. Even tough, the Polish UEFA Board claims to release more than a million tickets for all the matches, there is a limited pool of those which will hit the stands. The official sale has kicked off from 1st March and will last till the end of the month.

What is the problem anyway?, You just go online and order your set, right? Not quite. First of all, there is only one place you can get them at – the official UEFA website, so lookout for scalpers and any other venues claiming to have them on sale as its illegal! Since the sale started a few days ago, there have already been some rip offs reported by fans. So before frantically hitting the „Pay” button online make sure to double check if this is the official UEFA website (beware of clones, that may look identical to it!) Read more here.

It seems as tough the interest will substantially exceed the available pool of seats. Great news for the organisers, all of the back service providers (hotels, restaurants, National Rail, etc.) and sponsors, but not quite making the day for the fans.

Ok, now you are aware of the threats, but in a wider perspective what does the EURO 2012 bring into the picture of the Polish economy on the map of the new, modern EU? A lot. The large pump-priming has taken place to ensure that Poland has all of the required infrastructure in place for the big event. Moreover, Poland will be in the spotlight in terms of the Tourism destinations. It will be competing against London, but in the long run a lot of new visitors will be attracted to visit the heart of Central Europe,still considered mysterious and exotic for most of the residents of the older Western Countries such as Germany, France, Spain, UK etc. This is a great chance for the Polish citizens to abolish some stereotypes about their culture and identity. And let’s not forget about all of the brands and marketers, who already have their sights on the upcoming surge of foreign visitors.

All in all, EURO 2012 will mark an official accession into the minds of other Europeans that Poland is not some far away land and will raise the awareness for putting it on the travel destination lists. At least, let’s wait to see it.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and see you next week!

Krzysztof „Chris” Dargiewicz

USEFUL VOCABULARY:

1.  upcoming – nadchodzący

2.  to be closest to the hear – najbliższy sercu

3.  to be crazy for – szaleć za czymś; mieć bzika na punkcie

4.  semifinals– półfinały

5.  groundwork –  prace przygotowawcze

6.  to lay out – wyłożyć; rozłożyć; zaplanować

7.  to progress – postępować; rozwijać się

8.  more or less– mniej więcej

9.  to the plan– zgodnie z planem

10.  to follow a standard – realizować wymagania/standardy

11.  just around the corner – tuż za rogiem; niepostrzeżenie

12.  no easy feat– wcale nie takie proste

13.  to be hungry for – domagać się; żądny

14.  to cheer for– kibicować komuś

15. even tough– pomimo

16.  limited pool – ograniczona ilość/liczba

17.  to hit the stands – wejść do sprzedaży

18.  to kick off – rozpocząć

19.  to last till- trwać do

20.  anyway – tak czy owak

21.  scalper – „konik” – prywatny sprzedawca biletów

22. venue – miejce; obiekt (np. sportowy)

23. to claim – orzekać; twierdzić

24. on sale – w sprzedaży

25. to beware – strzec się

26. as tough – tak jakby; jakgdyby

27. substantially – znacznie; znacząco

28. to exceed – przekraczać

29. service provider – dostawca usługi

30. to make the day – rozweselić

31. to bring into the picture – wprowadzić do czegoś

32. pump priming – zastrzyk gotówki

33. to take place – mieć miejsce

34. to be in place – być przygotowanym; na miejscu

35. to abolish – znieść/obalić np. tezę

36. in the long run – na dłuższą metę

37. identity – tożsamość

38. to have a sight on – „ostrzyć sobie zęby” na coś

39. surge -nagły przypływ

40. faraway land – daleka kraina

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