EVENT

Euro-2012: Ukraine makes progress

UEFA experts emphasize Ukraine’s progress in the reconstruction of the Donetsk Airport and the construction of terminals F and D in the Boryspil Airport, as reported by the UEFA airport expert Peter Hampson after the launch of the Donetsk terminal project.

“I have visited only Donetsk and Boryspil today. I want to note that considerable progress has been made in the construction of the runway in Donetsk. And I have no doubts that the construction will be completed in time,” said Hampson. He added that clear headway has been made in the construction of terminal F in Boryspil.

At the same time, the UEFA expert noted that Boryspil’s terminal D still remains an obvious risk. “We have received assurances that the construction will be finished in time,” Hampson said.

In late September 2009 UEFA experts will conduct a large-scale inspection of Ukrainian cities, examining airports, hotel infrastructure, and training facilities.

Ukrainian rowers: Europe’s best

The reigning winners of the recent World Rowing Championships, our women’s quad sculls (Svitlana Spiriukhova, Tetiana Kolesnykova, Anastasia Kozhenkova, and Yana Dementieva) proved their mastery again at the European Championships in Brest (Belarus). Taking a more than seven-second lead over their rivals, the girls have won gold at the continental regatta, reports the National Olympic Committee press service.

The male crew (Hennadii Zakharchenko, Volodymyr Pavlovsky, Kostiantyn Zaitsev, and Serhii Hryn) added the second set of gold medals for Ukraine. The man’s and women’s eights have also won medals, taking the second and the third place, respectively. Ukraine’s combined team, with a haul of two golds, one silver, and one bronze, took the overall second place yielding only to Greece with its two golds and one silver.

UK helps Ukrainians boost democracy

On Sept. 24, 2009, the British Council in Ukraine and the John Smith Memorial Trust launched the 2010 John Smith Fellowship Program for Ukrainian citizens. All Ukrainian citizens aged between 25 and 40 are invited to participate. Preference is given to candidates that are active in politics, local government, business, the press, or non-governmental organizations and have achievements in the sphere of governance and public service.

The aim of the John Smith Program is to strengthen and deepen the democratic worldview with the help of a five-week program in the United Kingdom that combines academic studies and internship in establishments of the UK’s mature democratic system. The program topics include law, criminal justice, state service, public sector, and other areas. Residents of Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Moldova may apply for the program. The John Smith Program is administered by the John Smith Memorial Trust and its partners, the British Council and the UK Ministry of Justice. More than 40 Ukrainians became fellows in 2000.