Euro-2012 News Online

Supervisory Board of UEFA expressed its satisfaction with infrastructure preparation to host Euro-2012 in all the six cities of Ukraine, where football matches are to be held.

As reports the press-agency for Football Federation of Ukraine, such decision was stated by UEFA experts on May, 8 at the meeting of UEFA Supervisory Board. The participants of the meeting held in Nyon, Switzerland were vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Ivan Vasyunik, Football Federation of Ukraine President Grigory Surkis, Euro-2012 in Ukraine director Markiyan Lubkivsky and director of Coordination Bureau for Europe Football Championship 2012 organization in Ukraine Ilya Shevlyak.

The participants of the meeting analyzed progress achieved by the six Ukrainian cities in infrastructure preparation to host the Championship. Special attention was drawn to the stadiums, airports, National transport system and optimal solution for infrastructure and guests accommodation issues.

While discussing the situation at the strategic course of Euro-2012 objects preparation Ukrainian officials have confirmed guarantees of the Government and host-cities concerning the obligations taken.

Earlier on May 7^th, Polish edition of Gazeta Wyborcza made public the information stating that Euro-2012 final matches will be held in ten Polish and Ukrainian cities, while it was planned 8 host-cities before.

The edition cites the source of Football Federation of Poland (PZPN) and informs of such resolution to be announced by UEFA Executive committee at the meeting next Wednesday on May, 13.

Tuesday, May 12 in Bucharest starts the meeting of UEFA Executive committee where all Ukrainian and Polish host-cities of Europe Football Championship 2012 will be announced. The Executive committee with UEFA President Michel Platini in the head will make its decision after final applicant-cities’ evaluation. The basis is documented data gathered by UEFA delegation which visited Ukraine and Poland in the mid-April, as informs FFU press-agency.

While making its decision UEFA will take into account the latest report of both the countries which was heard in Nyon right before the meeting. The experts of the main Europe Football Organization expressed their satisfaction with Ukraine’s preparation after the report of FFU President Grigory Surkis and vice Prime Minister Ivan Vasyunik.

Final decision on Euro-2012 host-cities is planned on May, 13.

In addition to Euro-2012 resolution the Executive committee will look into other burning issues. UEFA will define hosts of Euro-2011 among 19-year olds and Euro-2011 for young women. There will also be defined welfare institution which obtains 1 mln Swiss francs check from UEFA during traditional gala-night of European football in Monaco in August, 2009.

This week UEFA delegation headed by its President Michel Platini will pay visit to Ukraine.

Before their visit the experts have positively assessed preparation course of Ukraine to the European Football Championship, informs “the German wave”.

Having examined six Ukrainian cities which are candidates for hosting “Euro-2012″, UEFA experts with Peter Hampson in head have declared that basically any of these cities can be selected by UEFA executive committee in May.

The Ukrainian government assures that the main requirements like stadiums and airports construction are being carried out.

Pavel Kostenko, the head of parliamentary committee on youth and sports Affairs has noted that half-year delay in Championship organization financing which was caused by an economic slump is now overcome.

In 2009 according to UEFA requirements 4,7 bln hryvnyas should be allocated for these objectives. Almost 80 % is already put in secure sector of the state budget, says Mr. Kostenko.

Th rest of finances, according to P. Kostenko, should come from Stabilization fund.

Among the most essential obstacles during Euro-2012 organization the deputy names hotel infrastructure development in Donetsk and updating Ukrainian railway and highways to meet European standards.

Michel Platini will again pay visit to Ukraine. At its meeting UEFA Executive Committee’s positively evaluated preparation process for Euro-2012 in Ukraine and Poland.

“The talks are over about replacing the upcoming Europe Football Championship. In some organization moments Poland’s ahead of Ukraine, however stadiums’ erection goes as scheduled in both of the countries” - stated Gerhardt Mayer, UEFA vice-President on Tuesday, March 24th after Executive Committee meeting.
Mr. Mayer also underlined that UEFA plan didn’t preview substituting Ukraine by the Germany, these were just mass-media speculations.

As states Franz Beckenbauer, coordinator of World Cup organization in Germany in 2006, UEFA Executive Committee’s got “generally positive” report on Poland and Ukraine’s preparation for Euro-2012.

In April UEFA President Michel Platini is going to visit Poland and Ukraine to personally witness Euro-2012 organization.

As claim the experts, key hot issue relating to Ukraine happens in May, when UEFA will finally decide on host-cities of the Championship.

Cities with the lowest chance to be part of 4 host-cities are Odessa and Lvov, as considers Andrey Kapustin, Euro-2012 Public Committee representative. Major reason is absence of strategic investor for sports facilities’ reconstruction and erection.

UEFA President Michel Platini considers Euro-2012 which is going to be held in Ukraine and Poland to be far less profitable comparing to previous Championships.

Host-countries are working really hard while UEFA makes everything possible to push forward the project. Nevertheless profit from Euro-2012 will be lower than from the last Championship of 2008, claims M. Platini.

Previous European Championship held in Austria and Switzerland gained $ 2 bln from TV broadcasting and marketing activities.

Earlier at its meeting in Copenhagen UEFA Executive Committee’s positively assessed preparation of Ukraine and Poland to host Euro-2012 and assured that Championship will be held in these countries.