The trophy awarded to winners of the UEFA European Football Championship was on display in Warsaw in late April, as the first stop on a tour of Poland and Ukraine.

The Henri Delaunay trophy, which is named after the first secretary general of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and founder of the European championship, was presented to fans at the capital’s Plac Defilad by former world and European champion Christian Karembeu and legendary Polish soccer player Andrzej Szarmach.

“Everywhere I go in Poland I can sense the growing excitement. I am sure the Euro will be a huge and fantastic event for Poland. This trophy tour is a sign that the tournament is very close, and people can see that the party is close to getting started,” said Mr Szarmach.

Poland’s Interior Minister Jacek Cichocki also announced in late April the planned temporary reinstatement of border controls in certain areas during the Euro 2012 championship.

Mr Cichoski did, however, confirm that this would not cause difficulties for Polish citizens, who will be able to cross Poland’s borders as usual. Border controls will be introduced from June 4 to July 1 but will be intermittent and limited to specific locations, the interior minister said.