Victor Yushchenko has met with inspectors of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) who are visiting Ukraine to decide if it can host the Euro 2012 finals together with Poland.
First Deputy Chief of Staff Ivan Vasyunyk, Youth and Sports Minister Yuriy Pavlenko, Humanitarian Office Head Markiyan Lubkivsky, Boxing Champion Vitaly Klytchko, Ukrainian Football Federation President Grygoriy Surkis, National Olympic Committee President Serhiy Bubka and Euro 2012 Ukraine Executive Committee Head Ivan Fedorenko attended the meeting, the President press office informs.
The President said Ukraine’s bid to host the 2012 football championship was a large-scale and nationally significant project and promised to work with the government, parliament and the Football Federation as one team to achieve this goal. Mr. Yushchenko added it could help Ukraine make a breakthrough in the context of its European aspirations and build closer ties with Europe.
“We understand this is one of the ways for us to communicate with Europe,” he said.
He also described the bidas a “goodopportunity to unite the efforts of the two countries, Ukraine and Poland.” Not only are Ukraine and Poland capable of implementing this project but they are also ready to demonstrate their mutual understanding and strategic partnership again, he said.
As far as the country's preparations, the Head of State said Ukraine was aware of the great responsibility and the amount of work to be done to host the event but expressed hope we would be ready on time.
“Ukraine is already taking measures aimed at improving its transport, sport and tourist infrastructures, which will enable us to create the best conditions for hosting the Euro 2012 finals,” he said, assuring the inspectors that all the venues would be renovated in accordance with European standards.
Mr. Yushchenko added that Donetsk and Mariupol could now host the Euro 2009 finals for teenagers.
On May 16, Victor Yushchenko signed a decree to prepare Ukraine as one of the co-bidders to host the Euro 2012 finals.
On May 31, Ukraine and Poland submitted their detailed dossier to the UEFA office.
On December 7, the two countries willhold their presentation for the UEFA Executive Committee, which is expected to announce its final decision soon afterwards.
