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At the final stage of the tender for the right to host the Final Tournament EURO 2012, the UEFA delegation visits to the candidate countries are of great importance. In Ukraine and Poland they took place from 11th till 16th of September, 2006. The UEFA inspectors visited all the candidate cities for the right to host matches of the continental forum, thoroughly studied their infrastructure, and met with state authorities. Let us remind about the main spheres of expertise, which the delegates paid attention to the most during their stay in Ukraine.

Kyiv

In the capital of our state, besides examining of important issues, connected to the preparation of Ukraine for hosting the most prestigious continental forum, representatives of the European Football Associations Union had an opportunity to meet President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko. Head of state assured the guests that all the main political forces in Ukraine have supported our participation in the event. He expressed his confidence that no changes on the country’s political arena will influence the UEFA EURO 2012 preparation.

The UEFA delegation was also received by Head of Parliament Oleksandr Moroz. Speaker informed that the Law for organization and preparation of the continental forum final tournament in Ukraine and Poland would be put to the Parliamentary agenda. This law covers special visa regime, issues of fans transportation, control for tickets sales and other actions, which are needed for proper hosting of the Championship.

Important guest were also received by Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine Dmyto Tabachnyk. At all the events the UEFA delegation was accompanied by Minister of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Yuriy Pavlenko,  President of Football Federation of Ukraine, Member of UEFA Executive Committee, Grygoriy Surkis, President of the National Olympic Committee  Sergiy Bubka and Director of Executive direction EURO 2012 Ivan Fedorenko.

Intensive program of the visit to Kyiv also included examining of the city and its infrastructure presentation. The inspectors observed the International Exhibition center, which is planned to be used as International Broadcasting Center during the European Championship. The UEFA representatives visited "Ukrainian house", proposed as a VIP-zone, and of course watched the presentation of the National sports complex "Olimpiysky", which Ukraine and Poland are planning for hosting the final match of EURO 2012. It is worth mentioning that Director of UEFA Professional Football Department Georgio Marchetti informed journalists at the press-conference in Kyiv that during their visit to the capital the delegate members saw clear plans for infrastructure development.

Donetsk

Inspection of Donbass capital – lately one of the most progressive cities of Ukraine started with hotels. In that sphere Donetsk has something to be proud of. The most modern hotels with high standard of service Donbass Palace (proposed for the UEFA head-quarter) and hotel complex "Victoria" – strongly impressed the foreign guests, who agreed that proposed hotels correspond to all the UEFA requirements. The city inspection continued at the construction site of the future stadium "Shakhtar", which is planned to be given to exploitation already in the end of year 2007.

City Mayor of Donetsk Oleksandr Lukyanchenko, who took part in the city presentation, admitted in his commentary to press: "Projects that we have proposed are connected not only to the European Football Championship but also to the development of Donetsk; our aspiration to make the city attractive for investors. Today the stadium for 50 thousand sits is being built, the projects for airport refurbishment are finished and confirmed, in 2008--2012 existing hotels will be refurbished and new hotels will be built".

Lviv

In the western capital of Ukraine the guests from UEFA arrived just before the 750 anniversary of great city of Lviv. The city presentation took place at the Lviv Gallery of Arts "The Pototskys’ Palace", which is on the list of incredible historical monuments of Gallychyna (western region of Ukraine). During their visit the representatives of the European Football Associations Union made inspection of the "Opera" hotel, which is proposed as the UEFA head-quarter for the period of the championship. They also visited Solomiya Krushelnytska Lviv State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, which was presented by Director of the theater Tadey Eder. In case of the victory of the Ukrainian and Polish Bid, namely in this building in summer 2012 a VIP-zone for guests of Lviv will be placed.   

At the end of the program inspectors visited the construction site in Stryyska street, given for new stadium construction in Lviv. Project developers, representatives of the International construction company "Hochtief", made presentation of the proposals for the project construction. According to the work coordinator for UEFA EURO 2012 Christoph Jung, it was one of the most professional stadium presentations he has seen over period of his work in UEFA.

Dnipropetrovsk

In a short period of time, which the UEFA inspectors had for Dnipropetrovsk, the international delegation managed to attend the construction site of the new stadium "Metalurg".  According to the preliminary plan, capacity of this arena is 34 000 sits. Ultramodern sports facility is going to be open in 2007. In the building of City State Administration City Mayor of Dnipropetrovsk Ivan Kulichenko presented the city and its infrastructure. During the presentation inspectors addressed attention of the city authorities to the concept of the city airport development as well as improvement of transport infrastructure, fan – and VIP zones. Foreign guests also raised a question of save filling of the arena in Dnipropetrovsk and free spectators’ evacuation. 

The final dot in the UEFA’ inspection visit to Ukraine was put again by the capital. The final meeting between the delegated of the European Football Associations Union and working groups of Ukraine and Poland was held at the base of the Football club “Dynamo” in Koncha-Zaspa. The UEFA representatives have expressed their high opinion of what they saw in Ukraine, namely in Lviv and Donetsk, medical-center of FC "Dynamo" and training base of FC "Shakhtar", gave a high evaluation to the service of the proposed for teams and the UEFA head-quarter hotels, expressed their complete satisfaction with technical possibilities of the International Exhibition center – future press center of Euro-2012 and proposals of the airport "Boryspil". The delegation members were sorry that very intensive program of the visit did not leave any opportunity for them to visit the back up city – Odesa. Several foreign guests expressed their wish to come back to Ukraine with their families…

FFU, 16th September 2006