First results

“The campaign led against Ukraine for the past few years, not even months – that we would not be able to prepare – has failed. Ukraine has managed to prepare,” Ukrainian Soccer Federation President Hryhorii SURKIS said. In his opinion, under no circumstances would Ukraine have been able to build so many airports, runways, and hotels, unless such a famous and respected event as European Championship.

Surkis said this at a joint press conference with Vice Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov and head of the European Soccer Championship Markian Lubkivsky in Kyiv, after the first round of the championship.

“The overall cost of all the works which have been done over practically four years makes five billion dollars. But I will emphasize once again that the sports expenditures which could be directly related to the championship total 800 million dollars, and operational – 55 million dollars,” Kolesnikov said, “Forty thousand architects, engineers, and builders have worked for the past two years practically 24 hours a day, no matter the weather. Five hundred people have been involved in associated companies, supplying raw materials, materials and equipment for these people. Over 40 countries have taken part in supplies, so that the championship went successfully.” According to vice premier, 90,000 more people a day are crossing the Ukrainian border now than before the championship. The stream of foreign cars has grown by 55-60 thousand a day.

The Ukrainian authorities expect even more fans to come during the second and third rounds of the championship. “From the point of view of organization, the Euro-2012 tournament is being held on a very high level,” Lubkivsky assured, “The UEFA positively assesses the course of the tournament, we have no global problems at the moment, and the technical questions are resolved quickly and efficiently.” He also added that the organizers received a huge number of positive reviews from tourists and journalists. “A true discovery of Ukraine must have taken place, because most of people who came here had not expected to see such a friendly attitude, openness, and desire to communicate on the part of Ukrainians.”

Nonetheless the journalists did not avoid paying attention to the painful questions, like the political boycott of the championship. “To visit a match of the favorite team of one’s country is a possibility for a politician, not an obligation. The championships are held for sportsmen and fans, and unfortunately there are few of those among the politicians,” Kolesnikov noted.