4-D Shevchenko Avenue, Odesa, 65044
e-mail: news@prichernomorie.com.ua
tel.: (048) 776-13-13, 776-14-14
en.prichernomorie.com.ua

President: Ukraine must execute UEFA’s decision specifying what cities will host EURO 2012 Championship
10:10 / 21.05.2009

ODESA, MAY, 21st, 2009, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko stated, the UEFA’s decision specifying 4 host-cities for EURO 2012 Championship “is an exact road map foe Ukraine and must be executed”, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

As the agency was informed at the Presidential press-service, President Yushchenko stated it in his interview 20 May, in Istanbul.

According to Mr. Yushchenko, his meeting with UEFA President Michel Platini was devoted to realization of this decision.

“The decision was objective, fair, its principals deserve respect”, — Mr. President added.

According to the evaluations, the main problem for those who is in charge for holding the Championship is meeting the standards necessary for the competition. “Every party, responsible for preparation must clearly understand – if the city is not ready to accept 4 – 5 thousand fans, it is difficult to speak of any kind of preparation”, — Viktor Yushchenko emphasized.

As Context-Prichernomorie reported before, 13 May in Bucharest President of European Football Union, Michel Platini announced UEFA’s decision saying Odesa was not included into the list of host-cities of EURO 2012 Football Championship. According to a number of media, Platini declared the final decision of the UEFA is as follows: the cities of Ukraine and Poland divided 4x4. Ukrainian host-cities will be: Kyiv, Lviv, Donetsk, and Kharkiv.

Authorities of Odesa expressed their disagreement with this decision. 18 May, Mayor of Odesa, Eduard Gurvits, addressed FIFA President (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Fr.), Joseph S. Blatter with a letter stating his principal discontent about UEFA’s decision on excluding Odesa out of the list of EURO 2012 host-cities. He also addressed the municipalities of 24 sister-cities and partner-cities, international organizations “Eurocities”, the League of Historical Cities, European Federation of Local Solidarity, diplomatic missions and representatives of Odesa Diaspora in the world.