When the draw starts people crowd around personal computers and laptops watching eagerly as new technology, the internet and interactive platforms bring the draw live from Switzerland or association headquarters. If you are in a bar rolling sports programmes bring the draw live, as fans watch on its like excited children on Christmas eve waiting to see what Santa brings. When your team comes out those all pervading feelings of anticipation are either replaced by excitement or flat anti climax.

International football is one of those different things that bring a special thrill to the minds of the football fan. Its your country against the world or in the case of the European Championships fellow European foes. Not every nation gets the chance to participate at the finals of a tournament. Portugal 2004, Holland/Belgium 2000 or Germany 2006 all had a special ring to it but not every nation gets to the top of the pile. That is where the qualifying competitions comes into play.

Two years time in Poland and Ukraine sees the European Football Championships come to Eastern Europe for the first time. The UEFA European Football Championship is one of the world’s biggestsports event and the most prestigious of all the UEFA competitions. Following a decision of the UEFAExecutive Committee in April 2007, Poland and Ukraine were selected to host the final tournament ofthe 14th edition of the competition in June 2012.

2012 will be the third time that the final tournament will have been jointly hosted by two countries after Belgium/Netherlands in 2000 and Austria/Switzerland in 2008. The UEFA EURO 2012™ matches will be played in eight stadiums, four in Poland - Gdansk, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw - and four in Ukraine - Donetsk, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv. For the last time, 16 national teams will compete in a total of 31 matches for the crown of Champions of Europe. The format of the competition will change for the next final tournament in 2016 to an increased line-up of 24 participants competing in the final tournament.

The UEFA EURO 2012 opening match will take place in Warsaw on 8 June and the final on 1 July in Kyiv. But on 7th February 2010 the UEFA European Football Championship really bursts into life with the draw for the qualifying competition. With the host nations, Poland and Ukraine, assured of places in the final tournament, the remaining 51 national teams will go into the hat to chase the 14 remaining places and football fans around Europe will watch eagerly as they find out which country plays which.

For the purposes of the draw, the 51 contestants are split into six pots according to the new UEFAnational team ranking system based on results and goalscoring performances during the 2006 FIFAWorld Cup qualifiers and finals the UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers and finals and the qualifying round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Pots 1 to 5 contain nine teams, while there are only six in Pot 6.

The teams are drawn into 6 groups of 6 and 3 groups of 5. The nine group winners and the best runner-up will qualify automatically for the final tournament while the other eight runners-up will contest the home-and-away play-off ties which will provide the climax of a qualifying campaign that runs from September 2010 until November 2011. The draw starts with the teams in Pot 6 being drawn into the sixth position in Groups A to F. Then the nine teams in Pot 5 will be drawn into Groups A to I and the suspense will steadily build up until the groups are completed with the heavyweights in Pot 1.

The weekend of 6th and 7th February 2010 saw the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw host the draw event for the 2012 European Championships. Built between 1952 and 1955 it is 243 metres high, and it covers a total area of 123,000 square metres. In 2007, it was included on the list of historical monuments, as an example of socialist architectural heritage. For over half a century, its 3,288 rooms on over 44 floors have performed their functions related to culture, science, exhibitions, and offices. It is the seat of numerous national and foreign institutions.

But whilst supporters watch or listen on during Sunday 7th February for around an hour into whom each nation will play, a great many supporters will never have the privilege of knowing what goes on behind the scenes as regards the planning of such a massive project. Much of the watching millions see round plastic balls coming out of a goldfish bowl and matched to groups. However, behind the scenes weeks and months of planning see the staging of such a large media event come to fruition. For thousands of football writers and media professionals access and accreditation has to be arranged. Broadcast compounds need organised offering pre and post mixed zone access to coaches and association chiefs. Unilateral camera areas are created as are strategic photo positions. Commentary positions, media seats, media work centres and UEFA hospitality are all buzzing areas of work come draw time.

Over the course of two days Voices in football webzine had the privilege of attending the draw for Eur0 2012 in Warsaw.    As the great and good of European football gather we give site visitors a look at what a draw involves behind the scenes from the UEFA executives, draw ambassadors in attendance to the cultural events external to the draw taking place. We ook into what is going on in Warsaw and Poland with the event still two years away from the stadium developments to the infrastructural developments that will see Warsaw as the centre of football alongside Kiev in June 2012.

Warsaw

Warsaw, the city that has survived its own death and lived to tell the tale. These days its populous thrive in a culturally aware city that is home to over 100,000 students. With cold winters and warm summers it is currently in the grip of the former with ice packs lining the sides of streets. At the road sides along the Polish capital Warsaw's streets the 4ft ice packs the serve as barricades against the cars that speed past pedestrians on pavements. Shop owners in the old town emerge from stores with shovels and ice picks eager to cut a passage through the frozen ice for potential customers and middle aged women walk around clad in fur coats and hats.

Like in most countries in Northern Europe ravaged by the winter freeze, Poland has had to shiver itself warm through the winter months simply as it has had to do this. Football is in cold storage as well with stands, pitches and entrances frozen over and incapable of hosting football. Poland towards the end of 2009 and as the new year 2010 begins has suffered more than most with the temperature seldom rising above -3.

Along the main thoroughfare Al. Jerozolimskie the communist 'wedding cake' monument the Palace of Science and Culture stands ambassadorial like over the surrounding streets. To the north, where the Warsaw ghetto district once stood, the new financial district now stands making Warsaw one of Europe's tallest cities. All the familiar High Street chains are around from Mark and Spencer to Subway; both present day monument to capitalism that the Palace was not when first built.

At the Palace, where the the draw for Euro 2012 is due to take place, an area currently serving as a car park immediately adjacent to the media entrance has been earmarked as the Warsaw Fan Zone for June 2012. Fortunately by then the snow will have melted and the ice pack drifting on the Wisla river tom the east will allow pleasure boats to offer visiting fans a alternative to the football on show via the large screens.

The Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science was build in Warsaw between 1952 and 1955, to some the monument reminds them of what once was under communism. To others it is Stalin's syringe and a memory of a communist age and Polish martial law. Reaching 243 metres high and covering an area of 123,000 m2. in 2007 it was included on the list of European historical monuments as a firm example of the 'socialist architectural' heritage so evident in the east. For over half a century its 3,288 rooms on over 44 floors have performed functions related to culture, science, exhibitions and politics.

Nicknamed the 'Russian Wedding Cake' due to its appearance and background it is the seat of numerous national and foreign institutions it is the universally visited landmark of Warsaw since it is by and large the only place where one can admire the panorama of the capital from the height of 144 meters when on the observation deck. As mentioned it's not without enemies though with my guide from PL 2012 telling me that many Warsaw residents would like nothing better than to see the building torn to the ground due to its affiliation to Communist Russia. The fact that, should this ever happen, it will probably be replaced by another 'shopping mall' means that the palace remains although the changing face of Warsaw's rich architectural face will perhaps see it one day disappear and then emerged once they realise a mistake was made.

Media Activities

Media activities start early on the Saturday morning proceeding the draw event held the following afternoon. Media figures, association representatives and journalists from everywhere from Kazakstan to Madrid hurriedly queue at the media accreditation zone for the all important pass that will offer access to the media centre. Offering breakfast, tea, coffee and buffet lunch the area is open from 8am to 8pm on both days of the draw events but of course not everyone is lucky enough to get access to the buffet zone. UEFA monitor journalist and media movements according to an access control system of entrance and exit. Although mostly all areas with the draw building including press conferences, flash zones and extended media facilities are open to all media certain areas such as buffets or hospitality are restricted to higher profile media invites, artistic performers and UEFA staff. Thus various members of the media are numbered on the accreditation pass from 1 to 5. Basically a UEFA accredited pass with '5' will get you everything you need in terms of coach access, media facilities and bottled water. But a '3' or '4' on the pass may offer greater media access to television zones, technical filming areas, translation box points and of course the high quality dining areas. The more important or technical your media role then the more likely you are to get free catering. Similarly though, UEFA helpers are also free to enter the dining areas for sandwiches or drinks.

Media representatives usually can collect their accreditation from the accreditation centre on the day or morning proceeding the draw event. Media accreditation gives access to the media working centre including the press conference room. A press welcome pack is handed out which contains UEFA Euro 2012 event guide, a pen, stickers, leather bound reporters book and tournament regulations pack. Its not the Academy Awards and there is no gold watch but the quality of the branded products indicate the 'five star' nature of the event. As far as the actual draw hall is concerned, a supplementary accreditation device (S.A.D) is required to access areas such as the media tribune, photo positions, draw hall camera positions and the flash zone.

You may ask yourself where accreditation stems from and whom could apply. Generally all qualifying press and media gain access to UEFA events through registration through the UEFA F.A.M.E platform. Invites to suitably registered media are issued out and journalists, editors and media apply through the platform. UEFA and its accreditation team then verify applications and electronic invites are issued out with respect to key information about the specific event. With the world of media communications now moving onto a new age with modern newspapers and press often playing second fiddle to the internet, so the inclusive nature of those media attending has expanded from newspaper writers to website reporters and editors from across the globe. Where once attendance at such events may have been open to an exclusive few this is now no more. Moreover, with the event live many newspapers suffering from a drop in sales and circulation choose instead not to send chief reporters to the event as they once always did. What often happens is that prominent freelance writers affiliated to sports press agencies will cover the event, interview and film and issue back print or image to newspapers back home. This 'cost effective' means of news collection is trustworthy, time saving and of course reliable. Many freelance writers are also 'multi-media' men. Where once a writer may have been attached solely to one newspaper, now he may offer stories, words and print to a multitude of websites, television, newspapers and blogs.

Inside the Palace on the day prior to the draw the media working zone is a busy area like an office on a peak productivity drive. Cameramen, journalists famous and not so famous from ESPN to The Sun huddle around PC's and laptop work stations offering super fast broadband access. Whilst the dress code for UEFA representatives will be smart, professional suits and immaculate hair the code for 'the journalist' is somewhat different. Whilst a small number appear dressed as news readers or a weatherman the rest look as if they have just dropped out of bed after a late night on the town. Unshaven, training shoes, tousled hair and ill fitting jeans are the name of the game. The scene though is global and all around can be heard a mix of accents from Russian to Spanish and Portuguese. Free drinks such as orange juice and Coca Cola is available but beer is not available for free until after the draw event.

On the Saturday it's getting a feel for your surroundings for the following day and a chance via marketing literature to get one eye on the main event and venues in two years time. On Saturday at 11.30am there is an exclusive tour for media around development projects ongoing in Warsaw. PL2012 a semi autonomous government body have arranged a tour of Warsaw Infrastructural projects ongoing within the city. Outside the city centre Novotel the coach and PL2012 staff pick us up and we set off on a tour of the construction shell that is the new Polish National Stadium which will be 'Stadion Narodowy' some 2.5km outside the city centre. At the stadium a camera crew from Sky Sports News are waiting for the coach so that access can be provided. The reporter Brian Swanson is recording a screen shot with the backdrop of the stadium shell behind.

The stadium site manager welcomes us to the zone and a tour of the site ensues via the site manager. A range of construction workers mostly from Poland and the Ukraine are busily at work and fires burn as grinders sound and hammering ensues inside as the all important structural bones of the stadium are laid. The shell of the newer stadium builds on the shell of the former communist Stadion Dziesięciolecia once a venue for communist party events, Polish national team games and state occasions but essentially the new ground starts from scratch.

The new national stadium lies at the heart of a prominent Warsaw district called Praga. An artistic district the stadium will be a key milestone and landmark in a rejuvenation project of one of the most residential and historical parts of town. At the moment the opening of the stadium is due to occur in May 2011 and according to the guide everything is on track. Praga contains many building indicative of how Warsaw 'used to look' pre 1939. Film directors use the district for filming activities in an effort to show just what pre-war Warsaw would have looked like without having the need to create sets from scratch.

After the stadium we adventure to the Mtociny transportation exchange point. Although Warsaw 'currently' has the infrastructure to host such an esteemed event the most important junction in Warsaw is being upgraded to allow wider transportation links and motorway upgrades to link Warsaw with the West and the rest of Poland more effectively. Poland currently has 800km of motorway but by 2012 this will be extended to 1800km of motorways. These factors alone will ensure that improved rail and road journey times can be achieved between host venues dotted around Poland.

Outwith the host cities of Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Poznan there are also set to be a further 15 base camps around Poland for the visiting qualify teams all which will offer training facilities and tactical preparation. Amongst stadiums earmarked include those of Legia Warsaw, Widzew Lodz and Wisla Krakow.

The local authorities in Poland hope that the developments will serve as a catalyst of social change for the Polish populous after the event has ended and serve during the tournament as a means of national pride, energy and self esteem reaffirmation. With Poland lying strategically close to Germany the organisers of the event can see the positive effect the World Cup 2006 event had on the German people nationalistically. Like in the Bundesliga system where crowds and an interest in football has grown tremendously in a footballing product post 2006, so optimism reigns as to the extent to which Poland can thrive on and off the field after the event. A great deal of questions though still surround a 'cost effective' stadium concept in Poland and the spectre of a post tournament 'white elephant' elite club ground.

Two teams Śląsk Wrocław and Lechia Gdańsk are due to move into newer stadiums being built for the Euro event. In Gdansk the current Stadion Lechii ground holds under 13,000 whilst the newer ground will be the PGE Arena and will have a capacity for about 44000 people. Meanwhile, in Wroclaw the resident club Śląsk Wrocław currently play at the tiny Oporowska a 10,000 seat ground. Both of the these teams regularly attract under 10,000 to Polish league games on a weekly basis so it remains to be seen the extent to which the newer modern facilities will serve as a catalyst for increased attendances.

With the Polish game blighted in recent years by sporadic fan violence, racism and crumbling facilities the current centre right modernising Polish government are very keen to install a newer mindset in the national consciousness with respect to following football and in particular getting behind the national team. Fan projects are going on in an attempt to improve the mindset of fans and get the whole country behind the team as 2012 gets nearer.

The official logo for the championship was presented to the world on 14 December 2009 and is dotted around the draw centre. It takes its visual identity from Wycinanki, the traditional art of paper cutting practised in Poland and rural areas of Ukraine. The logo has a flower that represents both the host nations and a ball in the centre symbolising the emotion and passion of the competition. The stem shows the structural aspect of the competition, which is UEFA and European football. In the centre of each flower and the ball, is a figure of a person that has its arms up representing joy and the excitement of the competition. Nature has also inspired other features of the logo, with woodland green, sun yellow, aqua blue, sky blue and blackberry purple being the crucial tones of the palette of colours to figure in the official tournament branding. Essentially then Poland 2012 wants to merge newer stadium property with important messages for fans through branding, solid intellectual property and message affirmation similar to Germany's 'A Time to Make Friends' message and associated branding logos in 2006.

Saturday 6th February: Press Conference at Palace of Science and Culture

As the draw event nears a press conference takes place the night before. Present are Robert Faulkner, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini and Martin Kallen. A statement beneath them states in English, Ukrainian and Polish 'Creating History Together' or 'Razem Tworzymyy' and 'Створення історії разом' in Ukrainian the motto of the tournament in three languages.

The conference is well attended and the flash of cameras is almost non stop from the opening words. Translation devices are available and translators are housed in mini-shed areas similar to a Wimbledon commentary booth looking onto centre court. Clarification is provided of Ukrainian venues and confirmation of whom the ambassadors are for the event. There is then some tournament information with confirmation provided that Russia would not play Georgia and Azerbaijan would not play Armenia in the qualifying rounds.

The floor is then opened after 10 minutes of announcement to the collected media. The media are asked to name themselves and whom they represent. Probed by English media UEFA President Michel Platini confirmed that there still remained unanswered questions about hotels and road infrastructure in Ukraine. Then UEFA was asked as to the decision with respect to possible Russia and Georgia match-ups. Specifically, some journalists asked as to why politics and sport were being mixed. The response from Platini was clear and firm when he announced that a pragmatic approach was required to possible fixture match ups particularly with relevance to nations who have a history of refusing to play each other.

Then mention was made of the exclusion of Krakow as a host venue from the tournament. One Ukrainian journalist felt this was similar to Spain hosting the tournament and Barcelona not being used. Platini's reply was that reserve venues were required should other possible venues not meet standard and this is where Krakow would remain.

Prominent British journalist Andrew Warshaw then asked Platini two specific questions with respect to the ongoing problems Capello was encuntering with his captain John Terry. Incredibly, Warshaw posed the question as to whether the 'sex scandal' was 'overshadowing the event'. Rather more cryptically although with reference to personal problems he experienced, Platini was then asked if the role of the captain should conflict with off-field issues. Brushing off the questions, Platini simply responded that the John Terry issue was 'none of his business'.

The final questions referred to refereeing issues - such as criticism of the choice of Martin Hansson as a UEFA referee for the 2010 World Cup. To questions as to why some coaches were not attending the event, most notably Marcello Lippi and Raymond Domanech.

Draw Day

On the morning of the draw the temperature in central Warsaw seems to have dropped a further couple of degrees and it's around -9 outside the Palace. Outside a mass of media men, camera crews, journalists and news reporters surround the event venue where a red carpet has been rolled out. With the draw being held at 12 noon local time its 10.30am when coaches and association chiefs start to appear. Very suddenly the coaches, chauffeur driven cars and taxis with draw dignitaries inside slowly begin to appear and they emerge to flashes of the camera and flying questions.

Capello arrives alongside Otto Rehhagel the Greece national side coach and is followed out of the luxury coach by Joachim Low and Oliver Bierhoff of Germany. All these coaches had been staying at the city centre Radisson Hotel near the draw venue. Back inside, the mixed media working room is alive with work and there is barely a seat or internet terminal point left to be had. Journalists are required to be in the draw hall by 11.45am to see the draw live or alternatively those not wishing to attend can choose to watch the draw unfold from behind the laptop via nearby plasma screens and produce copy or relay live to radio as the teams are drawn. The interiors of the venue itself is rather cramped and there is little room for laptops, rather photographers with large telescopic lens cameras dominate space.

As the clock ticks to 11.55am the space feels like an opera house about to commence and a buzz of excitement is within the draw hall as it slowly fills. Member association coaches and executives hug, embrace and shake hands and take to clearly named seats. As the clock strikes midday the presenters of the event emerge and the lights dim. Soon after we are introduced to event ambassadors Szamarch, Boniek, Shevchencko and Blokhin and a statement is made by the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk who then takes a seat beside Michel Platini.

A large theme of the event is the celebration of 50 years of the event going back to the victory of Russia in the first ever European Championships. A number of clips are shown of previous tournaments through the years accompanied by the music of Frederic Chopin. There is then a more modern feel with the appearance of a youthful looking dance troupe who sing through a range of previous Championship songs. Above the draw is a massive HD plasma screen replying the events and by 12.25 the draw is ready to commence.

Post Draw Mixed Media Zone

With the groups decided media from within and out with the draw hall rush to interview coaches and association chiefs to get reaction to the draw. The scene is a little like being back stage at a television event or film premier with camera crews, journalists, digital voice recorders and journalists everywhere. Each group is split with a curtain with a platform for coaches to speak on available. Coaches and association chiefs can then mingle with the gathered press and give thoughts on the potential fixtures and possibilities.

Around the Group G zone Fabio Capello appears and is met with what can only be called a media scrum who are eager to throw questions about John Terry rather than the draw itself. Looking business like and authoritative, Capello fends off all questions on Terry and is watched over by Adrian Bevington the FA's Director of communications who plays a key role at the centre-point of liaising between collected media, TV crews and Fabio Capello. He is almost protective like and watchful of those gathered. With microphone thrusted at him from all angles, Brian Swanson from Sky Sports News asks Capello “Just what can Rio Ferdinand bring to the Captaincy?” only for Fabio Capello to dismiss the question with “I am only going to talk about the draw.” Pressed further Sean Custis from The Sun suggests to Capello that “People back home want to know why Terry was sacked” only for Capello to be ushered out of the media scrum by Bevington. A crowd of media then amble away looking disappointed and set off eager to “track him down” and get answers.

Certainly the English media journalists had not got what they wanted but interviews continue with coaches of the various teams from Guus Hiddink to new Scotland coach Craig Levein who appears very nervous.

By 2pm most coaches have got flights to catch and so many questions have been answered that I try for one last time to question Guus Hiddink on whether there is any substance to whether he may be approached by the Nigerian national team. All I get is a blunt “I am the coach of Russia, not Nigeria” and with that its back to the media zone and a chance to view my photos and edit video clips from the event. The media zone is hectic and busy with productivity and deadlines the key for almost everyone.

Postscript

With the main event in Ukraine and Poland still over two years away its true that the football world has its mind, focus and energy elsewhere. As South Africa 2010 gets nearer by the month all of the top coaches of the successful world cup qualifying teams have far more greater priorities ahead with the draw in Warsaw simply a pencilled in diary date rather than a key milestone in the football season.

However much UEFA trumpet the first ever major tournament to be held in eastern Europe there is no getting away from the fact that the focus of attention of the world is still very much on South Africa and the World Cup 2010. Moreover, with the John Terry scandal still only a few days old many English journalist were all too keen to question England coach Fabio Capello on these matter rather than speculate about the future match ups with Bulgaria, Switzerland, Montenegro and Wales.

For a couple of days at least from the morning of media accreditation to when the first ball was plucked out of the first goldfish bowl in Warsaw's imposing Palace of Culture and Science the World Cup was on the back burner. If anything the 2012 event still feels at a foundation 'concept' stage despite being just over two years away. It is not until the world Cup is over and the qualifier start that implementation of the whole event can take shape.

Poland showed though that it is well equipped to hold the event, although the minimalistic nature of the part Ukraine played in the first draw event – out with the appearance of Andrei Shevchencko and Oleg Blokchin – would suggest that the draw event for the actual finals in Kiev December 2011 may see the Ukraine being allowed to impose its finals façade a little more forcefully than the Poles. This is especially so as Kiev hosts the final in June 2012 and there will be no World Cup on the horizon. By 2012, of course, the same journalist will be around as will Mr Platini and the football world will have possibly a new owner of the World Cup Trophy. It's also entirely possible that by June 2012 England will have a new captain although whether he will turn out to be winning one is really open to question.

Submitted By Editor (Damon Main)