Polish National Railways announced today that the Krakow-Lvov rail line will reopen in May of this year with the goal of connecting the two countries in preparation for the EURO2012 championships.

Thanks to new technological innovations and renewing of the tracks, the length of the journey between the two cities will be shorter by three hours. The wagons on the line will use the SUW2000 system - a system that allows the wagons to change rail-widths without having to change train cars.

This system allows trains to travel between the Ukraine and Poland in a time of seven hours -previously the same journey took ten hours.

This investment project is one of the many projects that are aimed at preparing Poland and the Ukraine to co-host the European Football Championships in 2012.

On January, 17th in “Olimpiyskiy” SC press-conference of RFU President Vitaly Mutko, FIFA President Joseph Blatter and UEFA President Michel Platini was held. The conference was dedicated to the opening of the 17-th Cup of Commonwealth for CIS countries and Baltic States.

Answering to a question Mr. Platini noted that carrying out Europe Championship 2012

in Poland and Ukraine is a challenge for both these countries, and for UEFA as well.

“It’s highly important that capitals of these countries have proper stadiums. If those will be available, I don’t see any problems with carrying out Euro-2012. One must agree it’s impossible to always held such tournaments in leading European countries” - said the UEFA head.

The stadium for Euro-2012 is under construction and the pace isn’t going to slow down, as declared mayor of Lvov city Andrey Sadovoy.”We’re working close to the schedule, - Mr. Sadovoy has told. -Construction is planned to be ended up in December, 2010 “.

Andrey Sadovoy is assured financing won’t be a problem. Now for the UEFA experts the most important is that we don’t upset construction pace. “Actually financial moments are our treaty obligations to general contractor”- he has noted. -For every kind of work general contractor has performed last year certificates are drawn up and we have paid off to the company-builder”.

Resources for stadium construction Lvov city administration included in city’s development fund. ” It makes around 250 mln hryvnyas” - notes Mr. Sadovoy. Moreover, this year 600 mln hryvnyas are included in the State budget for stadium in Lvov.

“Every developed country builds stadiums from State budget. I’m really glad that Government has previewed finances in their budget. Therefore, I think, we’ll serve as positive example of city and Government cooperation”- stated mayor of Lvov.

By the mid-February ten video cameras will be mounted in the stadium’s territory so everyone interested has opportunity to watch on-line construction process of sports arena.

In the night of January, 16th, fire accident broke out at Donbass-arena, stadium which is under construction, in a result six employees were injured.

According to the preliminary version short circuit in electric network became the reason. As a result construction waste flared up. 

Two builders who suffered from carbonic oxide poisoning were trying to liquidate the ignition. 10 units of equipment and 60 staff personnel were involved from Ministry for Emergency Situations.

Last year on October, 4th in Donetsk at the stadium under construction the worker of ENKA Company (the general contractor of construction) died.

Today in Warsaw were presented Cooperation Concepts for Euro-2012 between UEFA, Poland’s Government and Football Federation of Poland (PZPN) as to sports and organizing issues and also infrastructure development for Euro-2012. For this purpose UEFA’s operating officer Martin Kallen, responsible for Europe Championship 2012 organization came to Poland, as informs UKRINFORM’s staff reporter.

During his meeting UEFA official drew attention to the aspects UEFA is going to resolve: rights for football matches broadcasting and sport issues in Championship organization.

During the talks both sides expressed their satisfaction with Football Euro forum organization in Poland in general and realization of those goals set for 2008 in particular.

Both representatives from UEFA and Poland have set priorities in their cooperation for the months to come. In January 26-27 working meeting is to be held where tasks’ volume and responsibility of parties, involved in Euro-2012 organization will be specified.

These additions will be made public at the meeting of UEFA executive committee in January, 28 in Nyon, Switzerland.