Euro-2012 News Online

Vice Prime Minister Ivan Vasyunik is sure UEFA will choose 4 host cities in Ukraine and Poland to hold Europe Football Championship in 2012. 

“In May will be defined 4 Ukrainian and 4 Polish cities” - said Mr. Vasyunik. He also highlighted that organization of Europe Football Championship 2012 is carried out within the set schedule.

Minister of Sport and Tourism in Poland Miroslaw Drziewecki admitted in the news of Polish TV N 24 that division of host-cities between Ukraine and Poland won’t be equal.

Earlier Polish mass-media spread information that Euro-2012 will possibly be held in six Polish and only in two Ukrainian cities.

Within the framework of hosting Euro-2012 Lvov expects to see from 100 up to 450 000 tourists from Europe, as is stated in governmental draft of Euro-2012 Transport Service and Traffic Control Concepts, which was under scrutiny of Lvov Municipal Council.

“Out of total number of football fans arriving to Lvov from Europe, CIS countries and Ukraine’s neighbor regions, 50 % will make EU citizens, while in other cities of Eastern Ukraine the rate varies from 5 to 10 %” - press-agency informs.

Euro-2012 Transport Service and Traffic Control Concepts preview elaboration of high quality and effective management of transport supply for teams and also UEFA reps, fans and tourists. The Concepts define coordination principles of all transport vehicles to operate during the Championship.

“One of the core regulations in Transport Concepts is that to encourage using of public transport by 70-80 %. Special attention will be drawn to electric vehicles. This is going to enhance development of public transport in our city” - claimed Oleg Vilyura, head of Administration, Building and Infrastructure Development Agency during examination of governmental draft of the Concepts. 

According to Mr. Vilyura, at the moment Transport Concepts are under the scrutiny. The hot issue is forecasting the number of football fans expected to come to Lvov for the Championship.

Lvov Transport Concepts have to be approved of by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine by June 10^th, 2009 and presented to UEFA.

UEFA President Michel Platini is going to visit Ukraine and Poland on April, 14-17 where he’ll meet with the Governments of these countries in order to obtain guarantee obligations given by the authorities concerning Euro-2012. This was stated by FFU President Grigory Surkis at the session of Federation’s executive committee.

“On April, 14-17 Michel Platini is planning to visit Ukraine and Poland. UEFA President will see leaders of the State within the visit framework, apparently to get one more sign that the Government is keeping up with its joint and steady work over Euro-2012 organization” - claims Mr. Surkis.

Moreover, FFU President said that from July, 26 up to August, 1^st Michel Platini will come to every Ukrainian city chosen to be the host of Euro-2012 matches. August, 2^nd UEFA President will watch final match of Junior Euro-2009 (U-19) which takes place in Donetsk.

Mentioning organization process of the Championship, FFU President drew special attention to airports.

“According to conclusions of UEFA delegation which has recently come to Ukraine, terms of airports’ reconstruction are violated. There’re few complaints about Kiev and Kharkov, but other cities have considerably swerved from the schedule” - he said.

Meantime, as claims Mr. Surkis, situation with stadiums is far more optimistic. The experts highlighted progress in arenas of Kiev, Lvov and Odessa. Stadium projects in Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk and Kharkov weren’t even considered as problematic because UEFA has no doubts about these cities to prepare its arenas, which satisfy to all the requirements for Euro-2012 in time.

Earlier UEFA Secretary General David Taylor addressed official letter to FFU President Grigory Surkis through which he expressed his personal gratitude for perfect organization of official UEFA delegation visit to Ukraine.

Lvov region authorities turn to Government asking for help with airport reconstruction for Euro-2012.

Head of Lvov State Regional Administration Nikolay Kmit’, Lvov mayor Andrey Sadovoy and deputies of Ukraine, representing Lvov region have addressed their letter to Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliya Timoshenko asking to take measures in order to speed up bids for general contractor of take-off landing strip and Lvov Airport reconstruction.

The letter was signed in Kiev on February, 18 when Mr. Kmit’ met with the deputies from Lvov region in Verkhovna Rada.

“Hosting of Europe Football Championship 2012 in Lvov is one of the most burning issues for local authorities and deputies representing Lvov region in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine” - the respondents say. They’ve expressed their “serious anxiety over situation with take-off landing strip and Lvov Airport reconstruction”.

“Taking in consideration airport reconstruction schedule, approved of by UEFA inspectors, we’re asking to take necessary measures for rapid solving of the issue with bids for single general contractor of take-off landing strip and Lvov Airport reconstruction” - is stated in the letter.

Dnepropetrovsk region is planning to provide medical aid for Euro-2012 guests with the help of aircraft. Having undergone the reconstruction today was opened one of the 4 hospitals which will provide medical service for the fans.

Hospital is equipped with up-to-date facilities. It’s the first clinics in the region to have its own helipad. Soon medical aviation services will be available for 8 regional hospitals. It’s planned that 4 private company helicopters will provide emergency care. Agreement’s been signed by local authorities and the company, the issue’s only about money. As to financial side, we’ve no other way but to turn for help to regional budget. The country, according to the governor refused to sponsor organization of Europe Football Championship.

Viktor Bondar, governor of Dnepropetrovsk region:

- Within the framework of Euro-2012 organization state budget doesn’t help much. In fact, we’re financing all the events related to Euro-2012 organization by our own. At the same time it’s still not enough.