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Warsaw, Poland

Michael Jackson, speech transcript, Chris Cadman’s “Michael Jackson the Maestro” (archived mirror)

On May 28, 1997, the President of Poland at the time, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, hands a plaque over to Michael Jackson on behalf of the city of Warsaw: “I’m not a person of many words. But I am deeply touched and honored to receive this. And, for me, Poland is such a lovely, lovely, lovely place… To me, you are people of courage, honor, bravery, resilience, and, most of all, class. And I just want to say, I’d actually like to live here. [smiles] I’d like to organize "Children’s Day" here… It's a holiday time not only for children, but also their parents.”, declares Jackson, while on a brief, yet elaborate tour in Poland regarding the construction of a unique family theme park there. Major of Warsaw, Marcin Święcicki, and Jackson sign a letter of interest in which both parties agree to prepare for the park’s construction, and upon signing the “preliminary letter of intent”, he addresses a few words to the officials: “I’d like to say thank you, Mr. Mayor and everyone around the table for – and my great friend, Jacques, who, pretty much, make a dream come true. And I have something to say: I’ve been around the world six times since I was a baby, and no other country has touched me like Poland has.” He will later send  in a special phone message: “To the people of Poland..hmm.. I wish progress, development, prosperity, to become one of the greatest nations of Europe. Happiness, love and peace for all the children of Poland. My heart is with you. Forever.”

...Michael made a special New Year’s speech for the people of Poland later that year.

"To people of Poland, I wish progress, development, prosperity, to become one of the greatest nations of Europe, happiness, love and peace for all the children of Poland. My heart is with you forever.

But my plan is to come in the next couple of months. I'll be visiting. Pretty much I've found the house that I'm going to have there so I know I'm going to be living there, as well. I'll be going in and out a lot".

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

Michael returned [to Poland] in May, 1997 with an idea to build a theme park in Warsaw. A letter of Michael’s intentions was supposedly written and signed.

The idea was to build the park at the old Bemowo airport, where he had held his concert in September, 1996.

...Despite several meeting with representatives of Michael’s the idea never got off the ground, much to the disappointment of Polish people.