KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday promised some $6.1 billion dollars in government and private funds would be spent on preparations for the Euro 2012 football championship by January.
Euro 2012 is not just a wonderful sports event, it is jobs and our GDP,' Yanukovych said, speaking at a meeting with government officials in the southern city Odessa.
The Ukrainian government has budgeted some $1.2 billion dollars towards preparation for the championship to be spent by the end of 2011, and private industry is likely to contribute another $3.2 billion dollars in investment credits over the same period, he said.
The money would go towards improving airports, roads, railroad, and developing hotel infrastructure, he said.
Opposition politicians have criticized the Yanukokych administration for allegedly spending too lavishly on getting ready for Euro 2012, and for planning to slash pensions and raise taxes to help pay to co-host the championship.
The UEFA in 2007 named Poland and Ukraine co-hosts for Euro 2012.
Ukraine's preparation effort thus far has been mixed with delays in stadium construction, transportation infrastructure overhaul, and hotel development the worst headaches.
Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, Yanukovych's top lieutenant, on Monday said work to get ready for Euro 2012 would be 'practically complete' by the end of 2011, according to an Interfax report.
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Friday, 18 February 2011
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Ukraine Races To Prepare For Euro 2012 As World Cup Concludes
KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukraine, co-host to the Euro 2012 soccer championship, is struggling to avoid the pitfalls that plagued South Africa when the World Cup host battled ballooning costs and tight deadlines.
The former Soviet state has less than two years to finish stadiums in Lviv and Kiev, renovate airports and railway stations, and build hotels that were promised when it won the joint bid with Poland. The $3.3 billion project corresponds with a recession that has drained the state budget.
“We need to work, work and work non-stop,” said Hryhoriy Surkis, president of Ukraine’s Football Federation, in a July 5 interview in Kiev. “The biggest problem for us is personnel. Building a facility is not a problem, the question is who will manage it?”
The Euro championship is the second-biggest football event after the World Cup, drawing as many as 1.2 million fans from across the continent and as many as 150 million television viewers per game, according to the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA. The final game will be played in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, on July 1, 2012, after 16 nations compete over more than three weeks.
Ukraine’s government was criticized as recently as March by UEFA President Michel Platini for failing to make substantial progress on the stadium in Lviv. UEFA now says the country, along with Poland, will probably be ready.
‘Generally Satisfied’
“UEFA is generally satisfied with the status of preparations in the host countries, even though a few delays have been experienced in the development of some infrastructure, notably due to the past political instability in Ukraine and the very harsh climatic conditions during the last winter,” UEFA said in an e-mailed response to questions.
Preparing for an event of this scale is unprecedented in Ukraine, a country where living standards are less than half the level of Switzerland and Austria, according to a January 2010 study published by International Living. Switzerland and Austria hosted the Euro 2008 championship.
South Africa estimated it would need 2.3 billion rand ($303.7 million) in 2004 to build five stadiums and renovate five others for the World Cup. The price tag ballooned to more than 16 billion rand by the time the tournament was staged. Human rights organizations said the money and expertise could have been put to better use providing homes to the 12 million South Africans that lack proper shelter.
The World Bank has estimated the cup, which has been held every four years since 1960, will help boost economic growth in Poland and Ukraine because of jobs created for construction of facilities and investment by the government. Euro 2008 generated about 1.3 billion euros ($1.6 billion) from broadcasting, ticketing and corporate hospitality, according to UEFA.
Ukrainian authorities have “zero” doubts the facilities will be prepared in time, said Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov in a July 8 interview at his office in Kiev. UEFA officials also denied a media report on July 12 that UEFA could move the entire cup to Poland if Ukraine isn’t ready.
“There is no reason for UEFA to look into alternatives, the so-called ‘Plan B,’ if this plan is respected and delivered,” UEFA said. “Should the plan not be respected, then UEFA would of course have to look into alternatives for the staging of Euro 2012. Alternatives that could be considered in the first place are a reduction in the number of host cities.”
Ukraine has “wasted time,” said Martin Raiser, the World Bank’s director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, on July 1. The government should use the tournament to generate and attract investment, he said.
Completing construction in Ukraine has been hurt by a lack of money. The state budget deficit swelled to 11.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2009 from 1.32 percent the previous year. The economy contracted 15.1 percent last year, the steepest drop since 1994.
Kolesnykov said the country will find funds for Euro 2012. Spending for new stadiums in Ukraine will cost “no more” than $700 million, he said. Airport runways in Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkiv will cost about $500 million, and new terminals in Donetsk, Kiev and Lviv airports will be another $450 million to $500 million, Kolesnikov said. Terminal ramps will cost $200 million to $250 million.
Ukraine may issue a Eurobond later this year or sell other debt to cover the costs, Kolesnikov said.
“We are worried solely about the servicing and management of the facilities,” Kolesnikov said. “We need people who have technical education and at the same time they need to know languages. South Africa, like us, had never hosted a top championship.”
The former Soviet state has less than two years to finish stadiums in Lviv and Kiev, renovate airports and railway stations, and build hotels that were promised when it won the joint bid with Poland. The $3.3 billion project corresponds with a recession that has drained the state budget.
“We need to work, work and work non-stop,” said Hryhoriy Surkis, president of Ukraine’s Football Federation, in a July 5 interview in Kiev. “The biggest problem for us is personnel. Building a facility is not a problem, the question is who will manage it?”
The Euro championship is the second-biggest football event after the World Cup, drawing as many as 1.2 million fans from across the continent and as many as 150 million television viewers per game, according to the Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA. The final game will be played in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, on July 1, 2012, after 16 nations compete over more than three weeks.
Ukraine’s government was criticized as recently as March by UEFA President Michel Platini for failing to make substantial progress on the stadium in Lviv. UEFA now says the country, along with Poland, will probably be ready.
‘Generally Satisfied’
“UEFA is generally satisfied with the status of preparations in the host countries, even though a few delays have been experienced in the development of some infrastructure, notably due to the past political instability in Ukraine and the very harsh climatic conditions during the last winter,” UEFA said in an e-mailed response to questions.
Preparing for an event of this scale is unprecedented in Ukraine, a country where living standards are less than half the level of Switzerland and Austria, according to a January 2010 study published by International Living. Switzerland and Austria hosted the Euro 2008 championship.
South Africa estimated it would need 2.3 billion rand ($303.7 million) in 2004 to build five stadiums and renovate five others for the World Cup. The price tag ballooned to more than 16 billion rand by the time the tournament was staged. Human rights organizations said the money and expertise could have been put to better use providing homes to the 12 million South Africans that lack proper shelter.
The World Bank has estimated the cup, which has been held every four years since 1960, will help boost economic growth in Poland and Ukraine because of jobs created for construction of facilities and investment by the government. Euro 2008 generated about 1.3 billion euros ($1.6 billion) from broadcasting, ticketing and corporate hospitality, according to UEFA.
Ukrainian authorities have “zero” doubts the facilities will be prepared in time, said Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov in a July 8 interview at his office in Kiev. UEFA officials also denied a media report on July 12 that UEFA could move the entire cup to Poland if Ukraine isn’t ready.
“There is no reason for UEFA to look into alternatives, the so-called ‘Plan B,’ if this plan is respected and delivered,” UEFA said. “Should the plan not be respected, then UEFA would of course have to look into alternatives for the staging of Euro 2012. Alternatives that could be considered in the first place are a reduction in the number of host cities.”
Ukraine has “wasted time,” said Martin Raiser, the World Bank’s director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, on July 1. The government should use the tournament to generate and attract investment, he said.
Completing construction in Ukraine has been hurt by a lack of money. The state budget deficit swelled to 11.5 percent of gross domestic product in 2009 from 1.32 percent the previous year. The economy contracted 15.1 percent last year, the steepest drop since 1994.
Kolesnykov said the country will find funds for Euro 2012. Spending for new stadiums in Ukraine will cost “no more” than $700 million, he said. Airport runways in Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkiv will cost about $500 million, and new terminals in Donetsk, Kiev and Lviv airports will be another $450 million to $500 million, Kolesnikov said. Terminal ramps will cost $200 million to $250 million.
Ukraine may issue a Eurobond later this year or sell other debt to cover the costs, Kolesnikov said.
“We are worried solely about the servicing and management of the facilities,” Kolesnikov said. “We need people who have technical education and at the same time they need to know languages. South Africa, like us, had never hosted a top championship.”
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Formula One Flies In to Race Round Kremlin
Anyone new to Moscow might have trouble adjusting to the dangerously high speeds that local drivers maintain as they shoot around the city.
This Sunday, however, foreigners will be leading the race, as Formula One comes to Moscow with the likes of former Monaco Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, who will join other drivers in taking a spin around the Kremlin.
He will be accompanied by Formula One drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Heikki Kovalainen from the AT&T Williams and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes teams in the second Bavaria City Racing event in Moscow.
“I’m really looking forward to going back to Russia,” said David Coulthard, according to the event’s web site. And, in words that will delight Formula One fans and send a shiver down the backs of those who are not so fond of fast, loud cars, he added, “I’ll be making some noise with the car and hopefully creating a bit of a show.”
More than a hundred cars will take turns zooming around, including a Russian-made Formula One style car, Adrenaline, built by Moscow students.
Kicking off at 2 p.m., drivers will start at Vasilevsky Spusk, in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral, before going straight onto the Kremlyovskaya Naberezhnaya; then, they’ll move to Mokhovaya Ulitsa before making a speedy U-turn at the southern end of Tverskaya Ulitsa and going back to Vasilevsky Spusk as fast as possible.
Local Formula One fans are looking forward to the event, especially since attempts to make Russia a venue for the Formula One championships have so far failed.
“I do not believe that Formula One as a business has a future in Moscow, which is why this is such a great opportunity for us as Formula One fans,” said Svetlana Amelichkina, head of the Russian fan club.
Even though the average speed in Formula One is around 350 kilometers per hour, when asked how fast racing cars will be going on July 19, Oleg Stolyarchik from sponsor Bavaria responded by saying the official speed limit in Moscow is 60 kilometers per hour.
Apart from watching cars shoot around the Kremlin, visitors can enjoy a parade of vintage cars that will include Bugattis, Ferraris, Porsches and numerous American vintage sports cars.
This Sunday, however, foreigners will be leading the race, as Formula One comes to Moscow with the likes of former Monaco Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, who will join other drivers in taking a spin around the Kremlin.
He will be accompanied by Formula One drivers Kazuki Nakajima and Heikki Kovalainen from the AT&T Williams and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes teams in the second Bavaria City Racing event in Moscow.
“I’m really looking forward to going back to Russia,” said David Coulthard, according to the event’s web site. And, in words that will delight Formula One fans and send a shiver down the backs of those who are not so fond of fast, loud cars, he added, “I’ll be making some noise with the car and hopefully creating a bit of a show.”
More than a hundred cars will take turns zooming around, including a Russian-made Formula One style car, Adrenaline, built by Moscow students.
Kicking off at 2 p.m., drivers will start at Vasilevsky Spusk, in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral, before going straight onto the Kremlyovskaya Naberezhnaya; then, they’ll move to Mokhovaya Ulitsa before making a speedy U-turn at the southern end of Tverskaya Ulitsa and going back to Vasilevsky Spusk as fast as possible.
Local Formula One fans are looking forward to the event, especially since attempts to make Russia a venue for the Formula One championships have so far failed.
“I do not believe that Formula One as a business has a future in Moscow, which is why this is such a great opportunity for us as Formula One fans,” said Svetlana Amelichkina, head of the Russian fan club.
Even though the average speed in Formula One is around 350 kilometers per hour, when asked how fast racing cars will be going on July 19, Oleg Stolyarchik from sponsor Bavaria responded by saying the official speed limit in Moscow is 60 kilometers per hour.
Apart from watching cars shoot around the Kremlin, visitors can enjoy a parade of vintage cars that will include Bugattis, Ferraris, Porsches and numerous American vintage sports cars.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Putin suggests Russia tighten doping controls
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Feburary 24 that a state doping control system should be established for Russian sports and tougher penalties may be introduced for those who break the rules.
"Every provision should be made and a state [doping] control mechanism established, and we should act vigorously. If necessary, let's also discuss moves to toughen penalties," Putin said at a meeting of the presidential council on sports development and arrangements for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Two weeks ago three Russian biathlon racers tested positive for the Russian version of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO) at the Biathlon World Championship in South Korea's Pyeongchang. The athletes were all disqualified and forced to leave the country.
"I request the Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Ministry to involve the sporting public and continue a thorough analysis of the current situation and to draw practical conclusions," Putin said.
Last year with only several days before the opening of the 2008 Olympics in China, seven Russian women athletes were disqualified from the Games after they were ruled to have switched urine samples before tests for performance-enhancing drugs.
Bayern Munich interested in CSKA's Zhirkov
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Bayern Munich are interested in buying CSKA Moscow's Yury Zhirkov, the German Sport Bild paper said on Feburary 25.
The paper said that the German giants saw Zhirkov, one of Russia's best players at last summer's Euro 2008, as a replacement for Philipp Lahm in the left of defense.
Lahm is expected to be moved to right back.
Neither 25-year-old Zhirkov nor CSKA have commented on the news.
Zhirkov has also been linked with a move to Chelsea, currently coached by Guus Hiddink, trainer of the Russian national team.
CSKA face Aston Villa in a second leg Round of 32 UEFA Cup tie on Feburary 24. The first leg ended 1-1.
Platini to check on Euro 2012 preparations in April
KIEV (RIA Novosti) - UEFA President Michel Platini will visit Ukraine and Poland on April 14-17 for meetings with the leadership of both countries to receive assurances on preparations for the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.
"Within the framework of the visit, the president of UEFA will meet with senior state officials in order to, obviously, obtain new signals that the authorities will go forward jointly and stably work toward the realization of the Euro 2012 project," said president of the Ukrainian Football Federation, Hryhory Surkis.
Ukraine and Poland are co-hosting the European Football Championship in 2012 but doubts have been raised over progress in renovating stadiums and improving infrastructure, with Ukraine a particular concern.
Platini went so far in December as to warn Kiev that all the games could be switched to Poland if Ukraine did not complete construction work on the capital's Olympic Stadium.
Surkis added that Platini would visit all the Ukrainian host cities at the end of July, by which time the Ukrainian Football Union expects UEFA to have confirmed which cities will host matches.
The Ukrainian government said in early February that an official UEFA delegation led by secretary general David Taylor gave a positive assessment of Ukraine's preparations during a four-day at the start of the month.
Sberbank chosen as sponsor for 2014 Olympics
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Sberbank will sponsor the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, a business paper reported on Wednesday.
The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee picked Sberbank as a partner for the Olympic Games in the banking category, a government official told Vedomosti. The information was confirmed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
How much the deal is worth has not been revealed but it could amount to $110 million-$130 million, Vedomosti reported.
Sberbank and the organizing committee made no comment on the information yesterday.
On February 24, Russia's state-controlled crude producer Rosneft was named a main sponsor for the Sochi Olympic and the Paralympics in the oil category. Rosneft will also be a partner for the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Olympic team until 2016, with a sponsorship contract worth $180 million, Vedomosti said.
Zaitseva wins gold at biathlon Worlds
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Olga Zaitseva won a 12.5 km women's mass start biathlon race at the World Championship in Pyeongchang on Sunday.
Zaitseva crossed the finish line after 34 minutes and 18.3 seconds with just two penalties. Ex-Russian national Anastasiya Kuzmina from Slovakia was a great surprise, finishing second (7.5 seconds behind the winner) while Sweden's Helena Jonsson was third (12.3 seconds behind the winner).
"Every provision should be made and a state [doping] control mechanism established, and we should act vigorously. If necessary, let's also discuss moves to toughen penalties," Putin said at a meeting of the presidential council on sports development and arrangements for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Two weeks ago three Russian biathlon racers tested positive for the Russian version of the banned substance Erythropoietin (EPO) at the Biathlon World Championship in South Korea's Pyeongchang. The athletes were all disqualified and forced to leave the country.
"I request the Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Ministry to involve the sporting public and continue a thorough analysis of the current situation and to draw practical conclusions," Putin said.
Last year with only several days before the opening of the 2008 Olympics in China, seven Russian women athletes were disqualified from the Games after they were ruled to have switched urine samples before tests for performance-enhancing drugs.
Bayern Munich interested in CSKA's Zhirkov
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Bayern Munich are interested in buying CSKA Moscow's Yury Zhirkov, the German Sport Bild paper said on Feburary 25.
The paper said that the German giants saw Zhirkov, one of Russia's best players at last summer's Euro 2008, as a replacement for Philipp Lahm in the left of defense.
Lahm is expected to be moved to right back.
Neither 25-year-old Zhirkov nor CSKA have commented on the news.
Zhirkov has also been linked with a move to Chelsea, currently coached by Guus Hiddink, trainer of the Russian national team.
CSKA face Aston Villa in a second leg Round of 32 UEFA Cup tie on Feburary 24. The first leg ended 1-1.
Platini to check on Euro 2012 preparations in April
KIEV (RIA Novosti) - UEFA President Michel Platini will visit Ukraine and Poland on April 14-17 for meetings with the leadership of both countries to receive assurances on preparations for the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.
"Within the framework of the visit, the president of UEFA will meet with senior state officials in order to, obviously, obtain new signals that the authorities will go forward jointly and stably work toward the realization of the Euro 2012 project," said president of the Ukrainian Football Federation, Hryhory Surkis.
Ukraine and Poland are co-hosting the European Football Championship in 2012 but doubts have been raised over progress in renovating stadiums and improving infrastructure, with Ukraine a particular concern.
Platini went so far in December as to warn Kiev that all the games could be switched to Poland if Ukraine did not complete construction work on the capital's Olympic Stadium.
Surkis added that Platini would visit all the Ukrainian host cities at the end of July, by which time the Ukrainian Football Union expects UEFA to have confirmed which cities will host matches.
The Ukrainian government said in early February that an official UEFA delegation led by secretary general David Taylor gave a positive assessment of Ukraine's preparations during a four-day at the start of the month.
Sberbank chosen as sponsor for 2014 Olympics
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - Sberbank will sponsor the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, a business paper reported on Wednesday.
The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee picked Sberbank as a partner for the Olympic Games in the banking category, a government official told Vedomosti. The information was confirmed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
How much the deal is worth has not been revealed but it could amount to $110 million-$130 million, Vedomosti reported.
Sberbank and the organizing committee made no comment on the information yesterday.
On February 24, Russia's state-controlled crude producer Rosneft was named a main sponsor for the Sochi Olympic and the Paralympics in the oil category. Rosneft will also be a partner for the Russian Olympic Committee and the Russian Olympic team until 2016, with a sponsorship contract worth $180 million, Vedomosti said.
Zaitseva wins gold at biathlon Worlds
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Olga Zaitseva won a 12.5 km women's mass start biathlon race at the World Championship in Pyeongchang on Sunday.
Zaitseva crossed the finish line after 34 minutes and 18.3 seconds with just two penalties. Ex-Russian national Anastasiya Kuzmina from Slovakia was a great surprise, finishing second (7.5 seconds behind the winner) while Sweden's Helena Jonsson was third (12.3 seconds behind the winner).
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