Euro-2012 News Online

Most of Ukrainians are assured that Ukraine can host European Football Championship of 2012 in a proper manner. Results of monitoring research testify of 5 facts about Ukrainians, presented by Interfax-Ukraine agency.

Research was carried out during July, 5 -15th, 2009 in cities with the population of 50.000 and over. Within its framework 1500 respondents aged 20 to 60 years were interrogated. The statistical mistake of sample makes +/-3 %.

Research results show that 56 % of respondents consider that Ukraine can properly host Euro-2012. At the same time 32 % consider, that the country won’t cope with getting ready for the Championship on time and will lose its host status at the European Championship.

According to the data 43 % of Ukrainians think the best city to get ready for Euro-2012 is Donetsk, 41 % voted for Kiev, 16 % for Kharkov, 8 % for Lvov and 22 % - were undecided.

It should be reminded that Ukraine and Poland keep the parity in future host-cities’ distribution. Poland has four cities, while Ukraine has Kiev, and Lvov, Donetsk and Kharkov are in the air. The final decision on city distribution will be made on November, 30th, 2009.

The leader of “Changes Front-line” Arseny Yatsenyuk considers that Dnepropetrovsk should bring back the right to host matches of Euro-2012.

“It’s clear that in the first place Dnepropetrovsk should bring back Euro-2012 in short-term prospects. It’s been simply lost because of talent’s lack”, - A. Yatsenyuk told today at a briefing in Dnepropetrovsk, according to “Changes Front-line” press-agency.

“It won’t be easy to implement it, though. However as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained”, - adds the deputy.

As Mr. Yatsenyuk states, it’s too bad that such an opportunity was lost, even in spite of the fact that the head of the government is the native of Dnepropetrovsk.

Arseny Yatsenyuk emphasized that having lost the right to host final matches of European Football Championship the city lost not only sports, but also economic and political opportunities.

UEFA expects from Ukraine creating 112 emergency call center for the European Football Championship which costs 625 mln hryvnyas, Delo newspaper reports.

In accordance with UEFA requirements integrated 112 phone number of the emergency call center (analogue of the well-known American 911service) should operate in all regional centers of Ukraine like it does in the European Union, before Euro-2012 starts.

In order to carry out the project, Organization and hosting of Euro-2012 Final Program stipulates 625 mln hryvnyas, out of which 601 mln is to be allocated from the state budget and 24 mln from local budgets.

“In 2010 emergency # 112 will be introduced in host-cities of Euro-2012 matches (Kiev, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Lvov). By 2012 phone number will operate in every corner of Ukraine” - claims Valery Tretyakov, the deputy minister of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

However project’s implementation is at risk. Out of 153.7 mln hryvnyas planned in 2009 not a penny is assigned for the project. According to Valery Zhaldak, deputy head of the Coordinating Bureau on organization and hosting of Euro-2012 in Ukraine, the basic problem is that it’s not clear yet who will be the fund receiver.

“Even now nobody can decide on who’s going to take responsibility for 112 emergency service and be the account holder of 625 mln hryvnyas - either Ministry of Internal Affairs or that one of Emergency Situations” - points out Valery Zhaldak.

Besides, the Government hasn’t yet approved of 112 emergency call center development conceptions. The system should operate adequately one year before Euro-2012 begins.

With such pace we have with project implementation by 2012 we can only receive subscriber’s 112 call without providing any emergency aid”, - points out Yury Zozulya, head of Security Systems.

Moreover, the issue of coordinating the work between Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Internal Affairs and that one of Transport and Communications hasn’t yet been resolved.

In fact monopolist Communications Company of Ukrtelecom is to provide its technical support in project implementation.

“For normal operating of 112 emergency call service there’s to be created an integrated management system or working group at a governmental level which is going to include Ministry of Internal Affairs, Emergency Situations, Ministry of Health, commercial security services and so on. The system should operate with vice Prime Minister in the chair who will have close cooperation with security agencies. If it’s not done, money will be spent for all the departments and the aim won’t be achieved”, - is assured Viktor Khristoyev, director of Euro-2012 organization Department in Kharkov.

At the moment two regional 112 emergency call centers successfully operate in Ukrainian cities of Kharkov and Lvov.

Citizens and visitors of these cities can call any emergency service through 112 number - from police, ambulance and firefighters up to the elevator operators and plumber.

Citizens of other cities call emergency services dialing 101, 102 and 103 numbers. An integrated # 112 operates only in mobile phones.

It should be noted that the most successful experience in 112 emergency call system’ implementation has been demonstrated by Romania, which succeeded in launching the system completely within 2-year period.

The standard of perfect operating of 112 emergency call service is Sweden where within 6 seconds the subscriber receives all the information necessary.

UEFA delegation has arrived in Lvov to check stadium construction process.

Apart of European experts with Khaimo Shirgee, Karlos Lukas and Kennie Scott in the head there also has arrived Euro-2012 Championship director Markiyan Lubkivsky, press-agency of Lvov City Council reports.

During their visit UEFA officials will show presentation on stadium’s commercial use and its joint employment during Euro-2012.

We remind that on July, 14th UEFA inspector Peter Hampson who is being on a visit in Lvov has estimated as disastrous the situation with local airport reconstruction.

The Government will sponsor Donetsk airport construction for Euro-2012.

There’s need in 2.3 bln hryvnyas to construct Donetsk airport, as claimed Anatoly Bliznyuk, chairman of Donetsk Regional Council at the meeting on Euro-2012 organization and papers’ presentation.

According to the head of Regional Council, it’s needed 3.378 bln hryvnyas for airport reconstruction, out of which 850 mln hryvnyas is already enclosed on new paved flight landing strip construction. One needs 2.268 bln hryvnyas more.

For today the Government made agreement in principle to finance construction of such objects as flight landing strips, aircraft aprons and airport facilities from the state budget, as “Terricon” reports.

It should also be noted that cost of flight strip construction in Donetsk airport has increased by 1.5 times - from 972.7 mln up to 1.462 bln hryvnyas because of inflation. As it is observed, the cost increase in comparison with the estimate dated July 23, 2008 has occurred because of inflation process.

Construction of new paved flight landing strip for Euro-2012 has been carried out since 2007 with 4000Ñ…60 m parameters of class “A” , third category, which is capable to accept up to 140 aircrafts of all the classes every day.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is planning to found Anti Football Bully Center on the base of one of its higher educational institutions.

This was stated by Mikhail Yanovsky, chief deputy of Public Security Department of Ministry of Internal Affairs on July, 14^th at the session on security problems within the framework of Euro-2012 organization.

“We’re planning to organize Anti Football Bully Center On the base of Dnepropetrovsk University of Internal Affairs which will also be engaged in studying experience of other football countries in struggle against the similar negative phenomena”, - the Minister declares.

Earlier the Ministry of Internal Affairs has signed up Polish-Ukrainian cooperation agreement in security and public order sphere for the period of Euro-2012.