More than eight months have passed since April 18, when UEFA president Michel Platini announced that the right to organize Euro-2012 was given to Ukraine and Poland. Everybody in the two countries was euphoric. Two former representatives of the socialist camp received a unique chance to make a giant leap in their development. This especially applies to Ukraine as our neighbors have already joined the EU and guaranteed themselves good speed of approaching to the highest standards of life.
But what happened next? How close are we to the materialization of our grandiose plans? According to perhaps the most competent person in this field in Ukraine, FFU president Hryhoriy Surkis (and we have no reasons not to trust him) we are even further now from using the historical chance to improve our country.
At least recently he said to mass media that Ukraine can be deprived of the right to host Euro-2012. However according to his words we still have the chance to avoid this. In order to keep Euro-2012 we need to switch from imitation of activity to real work to prepare the championship immediately.
Maybe it was just a coincidence, but immediately after this warning the first step towards the implementation of the plans that had existed only on paper was made. 48-years-old Yevhen Chervonenko, former governor of Zaporizhya oblast, international master of motorsports, and vice-president of the trap-shooting federation was appointed the head of the National agency for preparation and organization of the European football championship of 2012.
Let us remind you that the National agency is the central body of executive power and its activities are coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers via the vice-premier. Chervonenko was appointed to that position.
"I don’t want to comment Chervonenko’s appointment in the political context”, Surkis said when asked about his reaction on the appointment. “I think that the society expects the new vice-premier to quickly solve the heap of problems of Euro-2012 preparation and not to raise backroom talks about his political affiliations.
“Let us discuss his specific actions in this position within the authority given to him by the President and the government and within the obligations of Ukrainian side before the UEFA.
When these actions occur, there will be a subject for professional comments. Until then I can only wish the new head of the National agency to orientate himself in the situation as soon as possible.
In turn I promise that FFU will help the governmental structure to choose the correct coordinate system and propose the efficient model of cooperation in all issues of preparation and organization of Euro-2012.”
The preparation for Euro-2012 was also discussed at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting in which President of Ukraine Viktor Yuschenko took part. He ordered the new minister of defense Yuriy Ekhanurov to solve the issues of assigning the land and objects of the Ministry of Defense for Euro-2012. He also ordered the governors of the regions in which the championship will be conducted to finish the plans of all objects involved in the tournament by the end of January to start their construction as soon as possible.
Lviv investors do not hurry with the documents
It was planned that the winner of the contest for the right to build the stadium for European Championship matches would be named on December 27 at the session of Lviv city council. The mayor’s office allocated 25 hectares for the construction area near the hippodrome. However our correspondent Vasyl Mykhailov informs that both candidate companies from Austria and Switzerland haven’t yet submitted all documents required by the competitive commission so the decision date is shifted to the beginning of January. Let us remind you that the Swiss company suggested the project of stadium with 33000 seats and appropriate infrastructure that will cost approximately 150 mln EUR.
The Austrians submitted designs of the stadiums already built by the company, in particular the one in Berne, Switzerland, where the games of Euro-2008 are to be played. This project is cheaper than the first one. However the commission still has questions about bank guarantees.
The session elected the deputy mayor who would supervise the issues of preparation for Euro-2012 in Lviv. It was 41-years-old Oleksandr Zharikov who has experience of working in government service as well as in business. New deputy mayor will represent the city’s interests in the capital at solving of the urgent issues related to Euro-2012.
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