Euro-2012 News Online

To begin highways construction for Euro-2012 we need 5 bln. hryvnjas of guarantees, stated President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko during the extended press-conference on July, 24.“We have left 3 years before Euro-2012. The cost of 1 km. of a road rises up yearly by 26%. We need to construct 4 thousand km. of highways not to admit construction price increase” – claimed President of Ukraine. “We have to allocate 5 bln. hryvnjas to start the construction works…Otherwise next 3 to 4 years we’ll be forced to lead highways construction directly from the state budget” – thinks Viktor Yushchenko.  “In case if the obligations aren’t turned back in 5-year term through the Ukrautodor, Ukrainian state will give back the credit taken” – said V. Yushchenko. Ukraine and Poland won the bid organized by the UEFA for Europe Football Championship 2012. According to the tender application the opening of Euro-2012 is planned to take place in Warsaw, Kiev will host the final.

On Wednesday, July 23, district administrative court of Kiev has leaved without consideration the appeal of Prosecutor General’s Office as to checking up the Taiwanese building company Archasia Design Group Limited lawful participation in bidding for Olimpiskiy NSC best reconstruction project.As stated Archasia Design Group Limited official on Wednesday the district administrative court of Kiev passed appropriate resolution at the basis of Prosecutor General Office representative’s petition on bill of complaint revocation. In June the Prosecutor General’s Office has appealed against the bid decision identifying Olimpiyskiy NSC best reconstruction project.Prosecutor General’s Office appealed against decision of bidding contest panel as to permitting Archasia Design Group Limited participate in the contest and also defining the company as winning bidder. The Taiwanese company Archasia Design Group Limited won the bid for main arena of Euro-2012 - Olimpiyskiy National Sports Center - reconstruction in Kiev but failed to provide the necessary documents at the fixed time. As a result the contract was ripped up. In response Archasia Design Group Limited sued the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Three fan zones are planned to be created in Kiev during Europe Football Championship final 2012: at Chayka sports grounds, at the territory of National exposition center - Expocenter of Ukraine, in the Druzhba narodov (National Friendship) park. The fan zones are UEFA zones where the Federation will have exclusive rights for advertising and other entertainment activities. All of them conform to transport infrastructure, communications provision, sanitary standards, medical care, no less than 20 thousand people accommodation capacity and so on. Expocenter of Ukraine is suggested as fan zone, meant for work with foreign guests and also residents of Goloseyevskiy, Solomenskiy, Pecherskiy, Darnitskiy, Dneprovskiy, Shevchenkovskiy districts of the capital (total capacity more than 40 thousand people). The fan zone of Druzhba narodov park, according to Pavel Bilonozhko, deputy chief of Family and Youth Central authority of Kiev municipal state administration is planned for work with residents of Desnyanskiy, Podolskiy, Obolonskiy and Dneprovskiy districts, taking in consideration foreign guests (total capacity more than 50 thousand people). Chayka sports grounds will be reserved for work with residents of Svyatoshinskiy, Podolskiy, Obolonskiy, Shevchenkovskiy districts and capital’s visitors (more than 70 thousand people). Next year it is planned to open in the capital the so called informal fan zones – football fest areas. They are to be organized meeting the Euro-2012 preparation State program requirements for creating the festive atmosphere in the city. In the informal fan zones healthy life-style promotion will be held. About 5 thousand volunteers and stewards will be trained for work with youth in the capital. Next year municipal authorities envisage passing Security Conception for football fans during the Championship as to preventing and banning negative effects among the young and fans. Early July the Head of UEFA Michel Platini paid a visit to Ukraine. The official had several meetings with Ukrainian authorities having been assured Ukraine would cope with Euro-2012 preparation.According to Mr. Platini the final decision if Ukraine and Poland are suitable for hosting Euro-2012 will be made at the UEFA meeting which takes place in Bordeaux in the end of September.

German edition of Bild informs of three possible alternatives of holding Euro-2012. It suggests Germany as its co-organizer. According to periodical, in Poland preparations for the Championship are going as planned, but Ukraine is considerably falling behind, mainly because of its infrastructure. Probable German cities which could substitute Ukraine are named Berlin, Leipzig and Hamburg. As informed the edition, UEFA President Michel Platini together with European Football management is developing three alternatives for trend of events. As it was planned before Euro-2012 could take place in Poland and Ukraine but in case of time deficit for preparation Euro-2016 might be given to both countries instead. And Europe Football Forum 2012 could be hosted by the country which satisfies to all the requirements. The favorites in such an alternative are Spain and Italy. According to Bild, Euro-2012 could be hosted by Poland and Germany as well. It is explained by countries’ neighboring, moreover Germany has preserved the infrastructure after hosting World Cup - 2006. British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has earlier spread information that Germany could host Euro-2012 Football Championship instead of Ukraine. The reasons for such measures on the part of UEFA, according to British edition, are unstable political situation in Ukraine, stadiums’ construction slowdown and problems with transport infrastructure. Nevertheless Football Federation of Germany has denied the information of its talks with UEFA concerning possible substitution of Ukraine as a co-organizer of Euro-2012. Early July the Head of UEFA Michel Platini paid a visit to Ukraine. The official had several meetings with Ukrainian authorities having been assured Ukraine would cope with Euro-2012 preparation. According to Mr. Platini the final decision if Ukraine and Poland are suitable for hosting Euro-2012 will be made at the UEFA meeting which takes place in Bordeaux in the end of September.

Football Federation of Germany has disproved information of its talks with UEFA on possible substitution of Ukraine as co-organizer of Euro-2012.

“We hadn’t any contacts on this issue with the UEFA, no formal requests were received” – stated secretary general of Football Federation of Germany Wolfgang Niersbach.

“UEFA executive committee is going to discuss Euro-2012 preparation during its meeting in Bordeaux in the end of September” – the speech of W.Nirbach, quoted by DPA German news agency.

British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has earlier spread information the Germany could host Euro-2012 Football Championship instead of Ukraine. According to the newspaper last week UEFA addressed to Football Federation of Germany if the country was ready to substitute Ukraine as a co-organizer of Euro-2012 Continental Championship.

The reasons for such measures on the part of UEFA, according to British edition, are unstable political situation in Ukraine, stadiums’ construction slowdown and problems with transport infrastructure.

Early July the Head of UEFA Michel Platini paid a visit to Ukraine. The official had several meetings with Ukrainian authorities having been assured Ukraine would cope with Euro-2012 preparation.

According to Mr. Platini the final decision if Ukraine and Poland are suitable for hosting Euro-2012 will be made at the UEFA meeting which takes place in Bordeaux in the end of September.