Preparations for holding the finals of EURO 2012 became an additional factor in Ukraine’s economic development, according to Information Centre Ukraine-2012.
This was stated by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in a speech during a reception on the occasion of the football event’s conclusion. The event was held on 5 July at the Olympic National Sports Complex.
“Ukraine has been renovated: we have built new airports, stadiums, roads and other infrastructure facilities. We have renovated public transport in cities that hosted the European Championship”, Viktor Yanukovych noted.
The head of state also noted that airports in several Ukrainian cities now have modern runways that can take aircraft with higher take-off weight, and new terminals made it possible to increase the number of passengers. He also reminded that 2,200 kilometres of new roads were built and almost 4,000 kilometres of roads were repaired.
“This infrastructure is our national property. This is an investment in the welfare of present and future generations”, the head of state said.
He stressed that Euro-2012 became the best international presentation of Ukraine and Poland in the world. “The world discovered Ukraine anew, we have proven that we are reliable partners, a hospitable country, which is able to implement such large projects”, Viktor Yanukovych noted.
The President stressed that Ukraine should continue to develop the transport infrastructure and prepare for the European Basketball Championship, which is to be held in 2015, and participation in the competition to host the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
On the occasion of the successful holding of the football festival the President presented state awards to Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Borys Kolesnikov, head coach of the national football team of Ukraine Oleh Blokhin, the President of the Football Federation of Ukraine Hryhoriy Surkis, head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Preparation of Euro 2012 (Ukryevroinfraproekt) Volodymyr Kovalevskiy, first deputy head of the National Agency of Ukraine on Preparation of Euro 2012 (Ukryevroinfraproekt) Oleksandr Birsan, director of the Local Organizing Committee “Euro 2012 Ukraine” Markiyan Lubkivskyi, leaders of host cities and regions, active functionaries of Euro 2012.
