Euro 2012

The euphoria which gripped Ukraine and Poland on April 18, 2007 after winning the right to host Europe’s football championship, EURO 2012, has come to nothing.

A year after the triumphal hugs and kisses, the two countries’ preparations have progressed so poorly that Football Federation of Ukraine President Hryhoriy Surkis, and Football Federation of Poland President Michal Listkiewicz had to explain the situation in detail to the Union of European Football Association’s executive committee in last March.

The National Agency to Prepare and Host EURO 2012 was established to coordinate all state structures in Ukraine. Its chair, Yevhen Chervonenko, constantly criticizes the Cabinet of Ministers for ignoring his organization’s problems.

“I consider the level of financial support for the Agency by the government to be embarrassing,” he said of the EURO 2012 preparation funding. “The government scoffs not at me (I don’t care — I’m a self-sufficient person), it scoffs at Ukraine,” adding,”I have been spending my own personal money to maintain the agency. The cars, computers in the office – everything was bought with my own money. I have spent and spend without regret.” (more…)

A Project of a special act on Euro-2012 which is being drawn up by the Ministry of Sport and Tourism is almost ready -says the Minister for Sport Elżbieta Jakubiak. But it will not come up on Wednesday for the first after summer holidays debate.

Is the special act on Euro 2012 ready?

Elżbieta Jakubiak: „ I have to take into account that the present parliament may very soon start working, so we carry on intensive work and I hope that tomorrow the project act will be finished. It will not be fully such as I previously expected to be.” (more…)