UEFA Executive Committee: Venice preview

The final phase of preparations for UEFA EURO 2012 will occupy the thoughts of the UEFA Executive Committee at its final meeting of the year in Venice, Italy, on Thursday.

The committee, chaired by UEFA President Michel Platini, will be given a report on the work that is ongoing in the two host countries, Poland and Ukraine, in the wake of last week's final-round draw in Kiev. Seven venues have been inaugurated, and the National Stadium Warsaw in the Polish capital will stage its first game at the end of February.

European football's governing body has praised both host nations for their unstinting efforts in getting ready for the tournament. In addition, more than 12m applications were submitted by fans for 500,000 available tickets in the initial sales phase earlier this year – an increase of more than 17% on UEFA EURO 2008, and UEFA is confident that the championship will leave a lasting legacy.

The UEFA Executive Committee will hear reports and recommendations from a number of UEFA committees who have held recent meetings. A total of 19 committees help shape UEFA's policy across a broad variety of specific areas, ranging from medical matters and players' status or transfers to refereeing, finance and the UEFA competitions. The committees submit advice, proposals and recommendations to the Executive Committee.

The Venice meeting will also debate the formats of the UEFA European Women's Championship and UEFA European Under-21 Championship, and appoint the hosts of UEFA Futsal EURO 2014. The committee will also study the programme and agenda for the XXXVI Ordinary UEFA Congress, to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22 March 2012.