Gdansk stars light up Sports Gala

Three famous citizens of Gdansk – former boxing champion Dariusz "Tiger" Michalczewski, gymnast Leszek Blanik and jazz pianist Leszek Możdżer – were named as Friends of UEFA EURO 2012 during the city's Sports Gala on Friday.

Among the guests at the gala – attended by 5,000 people – were Polish Football Federation (PZPN) president Grzegorz Lato, who presented the nominations, together with Polish tournament director Adam Olkowicz. "I was professional boxer, but football is my second love," Michalczewski, a former light heavyweight champion, told UEFA.com. "Of course I played as a kid, but also later on. I am friends with Lukas Podolski, who is also Polish born. He once gave me his football boots. I played one game in them and they have special place in my house.

"I also know important German ex-players like Franz Beckenbauer but the most emotions I felt were when I played with a team called Górski Eagles. This is the team composed of Polish players who performed in the national team under the reign of Kazimierz Górski, the legendary Polish coach. These guys – Andrzej Szarmach [EURO ambassador], Włodzimierz Lubański [Friend of EURO] and Jan Tomaszewski – were my idols when I was a child and many years later they invited me to play some games with them."

Blanik, world and Olympic champion in vaulting, felt honoured to become a Friend of EURO for two reasons. "Firstly, I will be among very well-known and important people and secondly, because football is very close to my heart," he told UEFA.com. "My father was a professional player and I have always followed football as well. As far as EURO is concerned, this is a huge opportunity for Poland. I am glad because I can see there is a positive change"

Możdżer, a jazz pianist and composer, was equally delighted. "I will do my best to promote the tournament as I am football fan and would like our national team to have success," he said. "UEFA has given us an important task and I hope we will fulfil it and organise a football festival. The Polish music scene has made big steps forward in recent years and I am sure our football will do the same."