Twiggy wigs and sampling the atmosphere
Welcome to Euro 2012.
Quite literally. Due to logistical difficulties in getting from Budapest to Poland, that flight was actually to Gdansk yesterday rather than the site of Ireland’s last friendly, the Hungarian capital. At the very least, though, that offered an early opportunity to sample the atmosphere in one of Poland’s most picturesque cities four days before the tournament actually begins.
Indeed, it was hard not to be struck by the anticipation on walking up to the departure gate in Dublin. The flight to Gdansk – on a bank holiday, six days before Ireland’s first game – was absolutely wedged. There wasn’t a seat left.
There is, however, one caveat to this. There were only about seven Irish supporters on the plane. The rest were all Poles heading home. And, judging by the clothes they were wearing and the excited chatter, most were doing so expressly for the European Championships.
As one told this column, “I’ve been living in Dublin for five years but I can’t miss this.”
Perhaps most interestingly, there was one group of half-Irish, half-Polish teenagers who have spent virtually all of their lives in Dublin. They’ll be staying with relatives for the next few weeks and admitted to being torn on who to favour. “Whoever we can get tickets for,” proffered one.
A fair enough philosophy given the circumstances. Unlike Ukraine, where hotels prices are ludicrously high and journey times even more so, Poland should see a good influx of fans. Ireland, after all, are expected to be the best represented nation outside the two host nations with 40,000 fans heading over.
And, as you make your way into a host city for the first time, it is actually the little things that make you realise the enormity – in sporting and, arguably cultural terms – of qualifying again.
It was difficult not to feel a little surge of pride as, on the road from the airport to Gdansk city centre, there was the Irish flag fluttering proudly on a pole, just in front of the German one. That’s when the realisation does sink in that ‘yes, we’re part of it again.’
In the brief time that I’ve walked around the city since landing in Gdansk and starting this letter, I’ve also been struck by “Championship atmosphere” around Poland. You can’t miss the little flags by every wing mirror, the Polish scarves on the head rests of the backseats.
No sign of any lightning-red Twiggy wigs though.
Although, over the next few days, I wouldn’t rule anything out. It’s all steadily – and nicely – building.
