EURO 2012: Kallen noted a significant progress
Director of UEFA Euro-2012 Martin Kallen noted a significant progress in Ukraine’s preparations for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. This was mentioned by one of the UEFA top managers during the press conference on the eve of the Donbas Arena opening. Apart from Martin Kallen, Head of UEFA Euro-2012 Local Organizing Committee in Ukraine Markiyan Lubkivskyi and UEFA deputy commercial manager Alan Ridley also took part in the press conference.
Construction of sports arenas as an example of the infrastructure development
“We are seeing a significant progress in the last two-three months, which haven’t been the case before”, noted the tournament director. “To be honest, some directions of the preparation process are still critical, which doesn’t allow to confirm all the fours Ukrainian cities as hosts. The infrastructure available at that stadium should be also at place in the airports, public transport, and hotel industry.
I know that all responsible services in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Lviv work to achieve the result, yet there is still a long road to go. We cannot rely solely on promises. We have to see concrete steps. In two years, the visitors coming for the tournament should have the opportunity to spend good time in Ukraine. It is important both for Ukraine, the cities, and UEFA”.
UEFA satisfied with financial guarantees in respect of airports
According to Martin Kallen, UEFA is satisfied with the guarantees in respect of the airport construction provided by the government as well as the host cities’ authorities. Now, within the next two months, the Union of the European Football Associations expects the first steps to be done towards the implementation.
In October 2009, UEFA representatives will undertake an inspection visit to determine the decision of the UEFA Executive Committee on December 10. “There is a lot of work which needs to be done to assure UEFA of having the airports at place in two years according to the schedule”, stressed Kallen. “The first step has been done, i.e., financing of the airports in all the four cities has been confirmed. Moreover, the government provided its guarantees, which is also essential. Now, within two years, we have to observe the project implementation”.
August 31, a red date for the hotels’ funding
At present, UEFA is expecting confirmation of the hotel industry funding. Kallen emphasized that the situation as regards accommodation in Donetsk as well as other cities “isn’t the one we would like to see”. Nowadays, there is need for accommodation for the football teams, journalists, and the guests. The UEFA Euro-2012 director underlined that the hotels should be in the stadium’s vicinity. “Travelling for 3 hours to get to the venue as well as spending the same hours next day to get to the airport is inadmissible”. Markiyan Lubkivsky, director of the Local Organizing Committee, informed that the guarantees are already under consideration by LOC, the government, and the teams on site. They’ll be submitted to UEFA on August 31.
LOC: shift from formation to organizational works
For the UEFA representatives, who are currently in Ukraine, this week will be very tough. After Donetsk, they are to visit other cities, which claim the status of a Euro-2012 host venue. On September 3/4, Kyiv will house the LOC’s meeting headed by Martin Kallen. Markiyan Lubkivsky noted considerable changes in the Ukrainian LOC’s activity. “I would like to underscore that during the meetings with the UEFA representatives the work was performed to stage the Championship. Today we are speaking not only about the infrastructure establishment but also about the arrangements. We’ve come down directly to the Championship staging. We cherish great hopes that by December 10 (when the UEFA Executive Committee meeting is due) we’ll demonstrate a maximum positive result”.
Fantastic impression of “Donbas − Arena”
Martin Kallen saw in his own eyes the process of the “Donbas − Arena” construction as he inspected the stadium. Now the UEFA official says that the process in Donetsk makes a fantastic impression. “The stadium is super. It is well-designed, details received great attention, and the club’s colors look very harmonious at the background of the arena’s design. Regardless of whether you are sitting behind the goal, near a corner flag, or on the central grandstands, you can enjoy a good view from any point. You can see the pitch and everything going on there. It’s a great achievement of both the designers and builders”.
Everything is in our hands
When it came to settlement of difficult situations arising during the preparations process, Markiyan Lubkivsky remarked, “Crisis is not the crucial menace. We ourselves pose threat.
To gain positive result, it’s important that all the key players join their efforts. We’ve got past the period when we could refer to the economic downturn. Now everything depends on us”. The success of Ukrainians in terms of the sports arenas’ construction gives optimism as for the timely completion of Ukraine’s preparations for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. At the same time, during the meeting with mass media, Martin Kallen repeatedly underscored that the nearest two months would be decisive. In case the run-up of the infrastructure objects shows the same result as the stadiums’ construction does, then, according to the UEFA Euro-2012 director, during the UEFA Executive Committee meeting due 10 December 2009, we will him as “the happiest person present there".
