(6 Jun 2012) A special service was held in the Polish capital on Wednesday to mark the start of the Euro 2012 football championships.
The mass was held at the twin-spired Florianska cathedral, which can been seen from the new national stadium.
The service was organised by members of the clergy who minister specifically to the sporting community.
Reverend Edward Plen said the service was for "football players and for football fans, from all the teams".
Neither players nor match officials were present for the service which nevertheless attracted several dozen faithful, including some families with young children.
Poland hopes to put on a good show Friday for the 55-thousand fans expected to pack Warsaw's sparkling new National Stadium and the millions more who will be glued to TVs when the home side opens the tournament against Greece.
Both Group A teams are fully aware of how important a good start will be in their quest to advance to the knockout stage.
Poland lost its opening matches at the three last major tournaments it played - the 2002 and 2006 World Cups and Euro 2008 - and is anxious not to dig itself into an early hole and kill the popular buzz surrounding the team.
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