Ukraine EURO-2012

Ticket sales for supporters

2012-01-15T16:13:00.000+02:00

Following the finals draw in Kyiv on 2 December, ticket sales for supporters of the 16 national teams qualified for UEFA EURO 2012 started today, exclusively on UEFA.com.

A specific ticket allocation has been reserved for fans of these 16 participating teams and tickets will be sold based on the nationality and/or country of residence of the applicant. Lotteries will determine which applicants receive tickets and supporters therefore do not have to rush to apply for tickets. The end date of the application period will be 29 February 2012 – or earlier for some associations according to their own regulations as indicated in their respective ticketing portal.

A total of 32% of the overall stadium capacities has been reserved for fans of the finalist teams. Each side will get 16% of the overall net stadium capacity, or a minimum 6,000 tickets, for each of their group stage matches. For quarter-finals and semi-finals the number of tickets set aside is 5,000 per participating team, and for the final 9,000 per team.

As part of its ticketing strategy, UEFA will also implement a tour operator program (TOP). This service will give the opportunity to supporters to buy travel packages from licensed tour operators and related tickets on UEFA.com afterwards. There are a maximum two tour operators offering such services in every one of the finalist countries, with TUI Travel PLC, the official accommodation agency of UEFA EURO 2012, being a licensed operator in most of these countries.

This programme will distribute up to 31,000 tickets, meaning an additional 1,000 tickets per game are being reserved for fans of the teams. TOP will run from 12 December to 1 March.

A total of 1.4m tickets will be available for UEFA EURO 2012 and about 85% will end up in the hands of supporters, either through UEFA's official website, the national associations of the 16 sides or competitions organised by tournament sponsors. The remaining tickets will be allocated to non-participating member associations, to other members of the football family such as confederations, clubs, referees and other officials, to host governments and host cities, to VIP guests, as well as for the corporate hospitality programme.

Further details on ticket types available can be found in the ticketing section on UEFA.com.

Best Wishes,

Ukrainna

Tickets info

2012-01-15T16:09:00.000+02:00

Hey guys,

Sorry that I was not able to post some interesting news recently. I was absorbed by a lot of activities. Yet I am still here to answer all your questions about coming Euro 2012 Football Championship.

It is better to write me an email right now and ask about the guidance, than coming to Ukraine to realize that you don't understand where to go...

Here is the information about the Tickets:

https://ticketing.uefa.com/euro2012-de/default.aspx

If you do have troubles to buy the tickets, please let me know I can gladly assist you on it.

Have a nice day!

YOURS,
UKRinna

Ukrainian SONG!

2011-10-24T21:00:00.004+03:00

Gaitana with young Friends of EURO

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Popular Ukrainian singer-songwriter Gaitana has composed a song for the next summer's tourn

Popular Ukrainian singer-songwriter Gaitana has composed a song for the next summer's tournament and is joined on the track by her fellow Friends of UEFA EURO 2012.

Gaitana, who earlier this year wrote Shakhtar are Champions! to mark the Dontesk club's 75th anniversary, is to release her 2012 celebration, entitled Viva Europe, in two versions – one solo and another where she is accompanied by 16 young Friends of EURO who earned the honour in an art competition and joined her in a Kyiv recording studio at the weekend.

"Given that we have been awarded this status [Friends of EURO] and are undertaking such a mission, we have to match this honour and encourage people to support next year's championship with our full commitment," Gaitana said.

One hundred people in both Ukraine and Poland, the UEFA EURO 2012 co-host nations, are enjoying the privilege of being nominated Friends of EURO. Half of those selected by their respective local organising committees (LOCs) are well-known individuals; the remaining places went to competition winners, ranging in age from five to 95 years old.

Miss Universe

2011-09-16T23:23:00.002+03:00

Miss Ukraine crowned first Vice-Miss Universe

She’s the second most beautiful in the world but for native Ivano-Frankivsk and the rest of Ukraine, she is the one and only. Ukrainian 23-year-old brunette Olesya Stefanko was crowned first Vice-Miss Universe 2011 on Sept. 12 pageant in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Leila Lopes, a 25-year-old from Angola, beat Stefanko on the 60th anniversary of the pageant.

After strutting in her pink bikini and a sumptuous white evening dress, Stefanko had to show off her brains as well. Asked which historical figure she admires the most, the former law student said she’d live the life of Cleopatra if she could. The Ukrainian beauty said that it would have been an honor to become just as wise, strong and beautiful as the Egyptian queen, who proved to the world that not only men can be leaders.
In the July interview with the Kyiv Post, Stefanko said that her dream was not, as beauty contestants often claim, to save children or heal the world, but to put criminals in their place as a prosecutor.

“I dreamed of being a prosecutor,” said Miss Ukraine-Universe 2011, who is in her fourth of six years studying at the Odesa Legal Academy. “But then I spent some time at the prosecutor’s office as an intern and realized that this isn’t work for women. Legal practice is better.”

The fragile brunette had all the typical sound bites needed to excel in the competition. She said beauty was not just about a perfectly-shaped nose or good genes, but also neatness, kindness and looking after oneself.

However, a couple of days before the contest Stefanko wasn’t as confident. She had a nervous breakdown, said Anna Filimonova, the head of the “Miss Ukraine Universe” contest in comments to Gazeta.ua.

“Olesya was tired and fell for the girlie gossip that she won’t win,” said Filimonova.

And yet she did, well, nearly.

EduSurvey

2011-09-15T10:21:00.002+03:00

Dear Friends,

I really appreciate the time you spend reading the news and visiting my blog. If you have some spare time, please have a look at the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QLS2T2H

Thank you for your participation.

Yours,
Ukrainna

A view of the golden domes of recently rebuilt St. Michael's Cathedral in Kiev

2011-09-14T18:50:00.000+03:00

Hyundai takes UEFA EURO 2012 to Frankfurt

2011-09-14T18:47:00.002+03:00

The UEFA European Football Championship trophy – the Henri Delaunay Cup – and UEFA EURO 2012 mascots Slavek and Slavko were the star attractions as Hyundai unveiled its dedicated UEFA EURO 2012 zone at the Frankfurt International Motor Show.
The 64th International Motor Show, running from 15 to 25 September, will see the official automotive sponsor of the finals in Poland and Ukraine showcase the special tournament branding that will decorate the fleet of 357 Hyundai vehicles that will transport teams, VIPs and event staff at UEFA EURO 2012. Hyundai will also display miniatures of the team buses deployed at the last two final tournaments.

From 2 December, the day after the finals draw in Kyiv, supporters will have the chance to enter the popular Be There With Hyundai competition, which invites fans to choose the slogans to be emblazoned on the 16 team coaches in Poland-Ukraine. A popular contest at UEFA EURO 2004 and UEFA EURO 2008, the promotion takes on a new dimension this time with supporters able to make their suggestions through UEFA.com as well as local channels.
A video detailing the history of Be There With Hyundai will also be shown in Frankfurt and on Hyundai's Facebook channel.
The biennial International Motor Show attracts visitors and manufacturers from across the world, and takes place at the Messe Frankfurt. UEFA EURO 2012 kicks off in Warsaw on 8 June 2012.

Socialism, capitalism or what's the matter? a little of Ukrainian reality

2011-09-01T16:27:00.001+03:00

When I am starting to think about Ukraine and its actual problems my head is aching. And the reason is not only in the country itself, the thing is in people and their attitude to the country and to each other.
Ukrainians have always been controlled by someone, some other power. Hence, we have used to be controlled and guided. It is really hard to look up back to the ancient times and realise that Ukraine was divided. This big pressure has been passed on through generations and ages. Now, we have to face a result - the nation is acting in its independent country like not at its home. Why? Being home means to invest in this home with a lot of love and energy, since that is the place where you are coming back again and again.
Ukraine is only 20 years old, a little girl with big hopes and expectations. It is a pity to hear all around: "Ukraine is full of idiots", "Lost country", "I am leaving this country, it has no future", "the government doesn't work anything", "it is better to be a cat in the UK than a person in Ukraine", and so far and so on. I think we are not grown up enough to understand that now we are responsible for our future. We are! A lot of people do turn towards post-USSR rules and morals. I don't want to be too critical, but I think these people shall be worring about their children and grandchildren more. Just looking back doesn't help too much to cope with problems! We have chosen our way, our country and our new development. The question? What are we doing to reach our target in order to live and prosper in the country we are all born? I think there is no need to answer on it, since everybody of you knows the real situation.
Being young enough and trying to decide my own life I am always coming to the philosophical thinking about my future, consequently about the country where I am living. Ukrainians are living in the "home of socialism", even though the global economy hitched us into the capitalism with its free way of thinking, the right for private ownership and the battle of competition. It is hard to switch the way of doing things and the mentality of people. Yet, if it won't be made somehow, Ukraine will continue to be a country of HOPELESS nation. We should lean to the society, which is responsible for its actions. We need a HOPE in our future, in our country and OURSELVES.

If you have some comments or feedbacks, I would be glad to read them :)

please email me: ukreuro2012@gmail.com

Yours,
Ukrainna

Jobbing with Euro 2012

2011-07-12T09:47:00.000+03:00

Here is another job opening:

Event Training Coordinator - 009RU

Job information

Division/Unit: Operations.

Contract Type: Fixed term contract.

End date: July, 2012.

Location: Ukraine, Kyiv.

Profile

Experience:

1+ years of relevant experience in personnel training/development in international companies;
event management experience is a strong plus;
good experience in the organization of event logistics;
good knowledge of the training tools;
excellent presentation and communication (oral/written) skills;
advanced PC user (MS Office, MS Project, MS Visio).

Education: higher education (further education in training/development is a plus).

Languages:

Ukrainian – fluent;
English – fluent;
Polish is a plus.

Main activities

assisting the Event Training Manager in the development of the content and preparing the training modules for all staff members;
assisting and supporting the Event Training Manager during the implementation of the training modules;
organizing and coordinating the training logistics, including workshops and teambuilding events;
liaison with internal departments and external partners to implement event training activities;
handling under supervision of the Event Training Manager all the administrative matters;
organizing and leading the Newcomers Welcome Day for staff members;
being involved in the preparation of the debrief report

Best Regards,
Ukrainna

Some jobs posted by Euro 2012 Ukraine

2011-07-12T09:45:00.001+03:00

Dear ALL,

I am happy to post here some jobs, related to Euro 2012.

Local Organizing Committee EURO 2012 UKRAINE in cooperation with UEFA is currently looking for a Safety & Security Stadium Coordinator (Kyiv).

Main accountabilities:

coordinating safety and security arrangements at the Kyiv stadium;
assisting the S&S Manager in ensuring the compliance of Safety & Security measures implemented at the Kyiv Stadium with UEFA operational planning and S&S standards;
providing the coordination between the public authorities, administration of the Stadium and UEFA/LOC during the planning and preparation phase in terms of safety and security;
developing and regularly updating the contingency plans for the stadium (jointly with relevant public authorities and administration of the stadium);
implementing the provision of the Private Safety and Security Concept for Official Sites at the stadium;
working closely with the external partners (both public and private) to ensure proper S&S services at the stadium;
supporting the planning and running of test events for EURO 2012 at the relevant stadium with the appropriate private, public and local athorities;
participating in the development of safety and security maps (event overlay plans) for 4 stadia.

Major requirements:

higher education (degree in safety and security and sports management is a strong plus);
5+ years of experience in safety and security and/or sports management (preferably at mass events/international environment);
good understanding of the Ukrainian public and law enforcement system and their functioning;
strong communicative (oral/written) skills;
advanced PC user (MS Office, MS Outlook, etc.);
Ukrainian – fluent;
English – fluent;
Polish is a plus.

The company offers highly competitive salary and social package.
Fixed term contract: August 2011 – August 2012.

To apply, please, do it online through the official website:
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro2012/abouteuro/organisation/recruitment/portal.html

Wish you a lot of luck!

Best Regards,
Ukrainna

Russian language in Ukraine

2011-07-12T09:37:00.000+03:00

Dear friends,

Ukraine opens plenty of opportunities to deepen your Russian knowledge. If you are interested in exploring the life of Ukrainian people and at the same time to improve your speaking skills in Russian, Ukraine is a nice place to come and to learn.

There are differend clubs, which could be even free of charge, that help you not only to absorb the language but also to find new friends.

Please let me know if you are interested in learning Russian, I will surely provide you the contact persons, useful links and locations.

Just to remind me about my email:
ukreuro2012@gmail.com

Hope to hear from you soon,

Yours,
Ukrainna

New FRIENDS of Euro 2012: Gaitana and Zukoski

2011-07-12T09:26:00.000+03:00

Friend of EURO Gaitana (left) and Ukrainian tournament director Markiian Lubkivskyi ©LOC EURO 2012

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Gaitana and Zukoski named Friends of EURO

Popular singer Gaitana and Jorge Zukoski, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, have been unveiled as the latest Friends of UEFA EURO 2012.

Gaitana, a popular Ukrainian singer and composer, and Jorge Zukoski, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, have been named as the co-host country's latest Friends of UEFA EURO 2012.
Ukrainian tournament director Markiian Lubkivskyi unveiled the duo on Saturday 2 July at the annual picnic organised by the Chamber of Commerce to mark United States' Independence Day.
"I'm really grateful to the Ukrainian local organising committee [LOC] for inviting me to join the exclusive group of EURO 2012 friends," said Gaitana. "Friends, you will never be sad with me," she promised after receiving her certificate of enrolment.
Zukoski, a well-regarded speaker at investment forums focusing on Ukraine, was equally delighted and promised to help promote Ukraine and UEFA EURO 2012 to the world.
Up to 100 people in Ukraine will be officially named as Friends of EURO, half of them public figures selected by the LOC, with the remaining spots already filled by the general public via competitions for people of all ages.

Have fun!

Ukrainna :)

UEFA Executive Committee meeting

2011-07-08T12:43:00.001+03:00

Hey everyone!

The UEFA Executive Committee today completed its two-day meeting and issued the following statement with regards to FIFA: "The Executive Committee takes good note of the will of FIFA to take concrete and efficient measures with regards to good governance, expects to see results within the next three months and is following the situation closely."
The Executive Committee also welcomed three new members; Sergey Fursenko, Peter Gilliéron, and Borislav Mihaylov, as well as the new European member of the FIFA Executive Committee, Jim Boyce. Karen Espelund, the chair of the UEFA Women's Football Committee, was made a member by invitation to the UEFA Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee then approved the proposed list of appointments to the UEFA committees for the period 2011-2013 and the organs for the administration for justice from 2011-2015. The full lists of all members will be published on UEFA.com once the new committees are effective as of 1 July 2011. In addition, the 2011 edition of the Disciplinary Regulations were approved.
UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino said after the meeting that the main amendments to the 2011 Disciplinary Regulations, among other things, concern provisions on match-fixing. "We are strengthening our rules with regard to the whole cancer of match-fixing, manipulation and corruption," he said, "by foreseeing measures giving the possibility to the disciplinary bodies and inspectors to cooperate much more closely with the public authorities. We are cooperat ing already, but we did not have the legal base – we will now have it much more clearly."
For UEFA EURO 2012 the Executive Committee approved the date and location for the play-off draw that will take place on Thursday 13 October in Krakow, Poland; the exact timing and location will be announced in due course. The procedure for the final draw was also approved, according to the competition regulations, and will take place on Friday 2 December at 19.00 local time (18.00CET) at the National Palace of Arts 'Ukraine' in Kyiv.
"I was myself in Poland and Ukraine last week," Mr Infantino said with regard to preparations for the final round, "and there is light at the end of the tunnel – we see that [work] is progressing. There is still a lot to do, but we are very positive. Everything will be ready well in time, and you can see the change in enthusiasm in the two countries – everyone is getting very much into it now that we are approaching the EURO. "
With regards to the financial distribution to the participating teams at the UEFA EURO 2012 final tournament the fixed participation contribution per team will amount to €8m. Further, a performance bonus at the group stage of €0.5m per draw and €1m per win was fixed, as well as a bonus of €1m to the third-placed team in the group. The quarter-finalists will each receive €2m, the semi-finalists €3m, the runners-up €4.5m and the winners of UEFA EURO 2012 €7.5m. Thus the total amount available for distribution is €196m (up from €184m for UEFA EURO 2008).
The dates for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel were revised from 15-29 June to 5-18 June, in order to avoid a clash with the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, now confirmed as taking place from 15-30 June of that year.
The Executive Committee approved a proposal to reward international players who had reached 100 or more caps for their national team with a special mark of recognition – a commemorative cap and medal to be presented to those players who have reached this milestone in their own national stadium.
The UEFA Executive Committee's next meeting will be on 22-23 September in Limassol, Cyprus.

Regards,
Ukrinna

Logo for Euro 2012 at Kyiv's Olympic Stadium Unveiled

2011-06-02T17:25:00.000+03:00

The main sports arena in Ukraine, which will host the finals of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament, now has a logo.
Soccer fans could enter a contest to have their logo chosen to represent the tourney. The winner is designer and soccer fan Sergey Melnik, who lives in Dubai. The logo is supposed to represent the inside of the stadium.
Sergey’s brother traveled to Kyiv to accept the $1,200 prize on his brother’s behalf.
[Alexander Melnik, Winner’s Brother]: “This is a membrane that is stretched over the stadium, and the viewer will see something like this angle.”
Over 260 works from 150 people were entered. Ukrainians chose the top six. And from April 21st to the 27th, a jury met to decide on a winner.
But even though the prize has been awarded, some members of the jury say that the logo still needs more work.
[Valery Sushkevich, President, Paralympic Committee of Ukraine]: “It lacks many aspects, in particular – the national identity. I would add colors of the flag to this graphic design.”
The 14th Euro 2012 tournament will take place in Poland and Ukraine in June and July of 2012. The final match will be played in Kyiv on July 1st.

EURO 2012 Granted Money

2011-06-02T17:10:00.002+03:00

General Prosecutor of Ukraine has checked on the legal use of granted money for UEFA EURO 2012 preparation in Ukraine. As expected the results have appeared to be very interesting and rather disappointing. Therefore, some functionaries have appropriated illegally lots of money. Nevertheless, nobody believed in another scenario that preparation of Ukraine will pass without use of “intricate national peculiarities of Ukrainian character”.
On this ground Lviv has distinguished dramatically. There is an action in Trial court about invalidation of contract between Lviv Communal Enterprise “Agency for Lviv stadium construction”, LLC (limited liability company) “Engineer-constructor company “Azovintex” and German enterprise “arenaCom GmbH”. The problem is the latter has received 1.37 million euro instead 22 thousand of real value, according to check performed by Lviv controlling and auditing service.
Also Lviv Procurator Office carries out several audits on legal use of granted 18 million euro destined for government state-owned enterprise “Agency for EURO 2012 facilities construction in Lviv”.
The same situation with illegal appropriation of granted money for EURO 2012 preparation is in Kyiv. Particularly, Pechersky Raion Prosecutor Office has established that 22 million euro has been appropriated during Olympic stadium seats dismantling by director of a government state-owned enterprise. The action is already brought against negligent and dishonest chief.
In addition, Kyiv Prosecutor Office audits on legality of the purchase goods and services and use of granted money by the Communal Enterprises “Kyiv Metropolitan Railway” and “International Airport “Boryspil”.
Moreover, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Prosecutor Office checks on lawfulness 11 tenders for purchasing goods and services to the amount of 62.000 euro, granted for “Dnipropetrovsk Oblavtodor” (enterprise that occupies with construction and upkeep of oblast roads).
Week ago, The Cabinet of Minister of Ukraine revised value of preparation and operation of EURO 2012 in Ukraine and diminished it by 100 million euro or is 1 % down. Now total expenses are up to 10 billions euro.

Ukrainian passport control

2011-06-02T17:08:00.000+03:00

1 million football fans estimated to visit Ukraine during 2012 UEFA European Football Championship. So the passport control procedure will be considerably hastened for EURO guests in order to make their staying comfortable from the very first minute i.e. from the arrival. Therefore RFID-card terminals (tags with identification data of a passenger) will be installed at the four host cities airports, Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv and Kharkov, and additionally at the Dnipropetrovsk IA and Odesa IA.
There already are these magnetic stripe cards in Kiev and Kharkiv, other cities will be equipped with by the end of this year. Representatives of State Border Guard Service of Ukraine say that it is very important step for Ukraine in airport preparation for EURO 2012.
Now the most important thing is to extend the sales network of RFID-cards and to start advertising campaigns that will promote the advantages of these new cards during border crossing. Such promo videos will be broadcast at the airports.
Nowadays more than 25.000 people provided themselves with RFID-cards that permit to go through passport control more rapidly and comfortably.
However, there are several construction and reconstructions of all airports that will receive EURO 2012 guests. Therefore new equipment installation and new jobsite creation are on in the Lviv airport. Also runway is extending and it will permit to land all types of airplanes. New terminal will have 900 passengers per hour capacity but during EURO 2012 it will be able to service some 1900 passengers. According to the Project Director the new Lviv Terminal will be ready by the end of December.
The biggest airport of Ukraine - Boryspil International Airport, now have a new Terminal “D” under construction. It will be finished by the end of this year. As the Donetsk new airport will. Now it is in homestretch and only some finishing works are left. New runway is still under-construction in Kharkiv IA.
According to Boris Kolesnikov, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine all new airport terminals for EURO 2012 will be done in time.

A call for Friends of UEFA EURO 2012

2011-05-27T14:29:00.000+03:00

Ukrainian international right-back Artem Fedetskiy urged citizens of Lviv to play their part next summer after being unveiled as the latest Friend of UEFA EURO 2012 in his adopted city.

Artem Fedetskiy is made the latest Friend of UEFA EURO 2012 ©Yevhen Kraws

Ukrainian international right-back Artem Fedetskiy urged citizens of Lviv to play their part next summer after being unveiled as the latest Friend of UEFA EURO 2012 in his adopted city.

Ukrainian international Artem Fedetskiy urged citizens of Lviv to play their part next summer after being unveiled as the latest Friend of UEFA EURO 2012 in his adopted city.
FC Karpaty Lviv defender Fedetskiy was the star attraction in Tuesday's volunteer programme launch at Lviv city hall, and immediately embarked on a recruitment drive. "It's an honour to become a volunteer programme ambassador," said the 26-year-old former FC Shakhtar Donetsk right-back.
"I believe Lviv will provide a warm welcome for all everyone at the tournament, players and guests. The city can experience a major boost in tourism due to the hospitality of our volunteers so I'd like to invite everyone to put themselves forward."
Volunteers will support UEFA staff in 20 different areas of operation, working at a variety of official UEFA EURO 2012 sites including stadiums, airports and hotels. Candidates will be able to apply via UEFA.com from 14 June.

Friends of EURO
Up to 100 people in Ukraine will be officially named as Friends of UEFA EURO 2012 – half of them public figures selected by the LOC, with the remaining spots open to the general public via competitions for people of all ages. Tournament co-hosts Poland will also nominate 100 Friends of EURO.

Prices are rising up

2011-05-27T14:26:00.000+03:00

We are not alone asking question about constant rising up in construction prices for 2012 European Football Champion facilities. Perhaps our demands and requests were finally heard and that’s why National Agency on Holding and Preparation of Euro 2012 decided to reveal the causes of such phenomenon.
The prime reason of ongoing situation is improvident former-Government that didn’t care much about EURO 2012 and the whole country therefore projects were prepared improperly.
It was announce by Oleg Lycyk, Chief of Infrastructure Development Department of the National Agency on Holding and Preparation of final part of Euro 2012 in Ukraine and realization of infrastructural projects. Rather scary position, isn’t it. It might be a reason for such position existence – frighten imprudent workers that illegally rise up construction cost constantly. He also mentioned that local authorities elaborated these projects in hurry so stadiums and airports were off UEFA’s standards.
But arrival of “intelligent and experienced” people who understand the essence matter changed the situation considerably. Due to the unexpected help of such “experienced people” granted money started to fly away in mysterious direction. Thanks to them construction cost of the EURO 2012 facilities multiplied by several times.
The numbers speak for themselves, Olympic stadium in Kiev, the main arena of EURO 2012 has risen in price at least three times. Firstly construction cost made up 136 millions of euro. Nevertheless, “intelligent and experienced” people’s advent brought another rising in price up to 190 millions of euro. However, neither April nor June of 2011 delivered us good news and price accounted for EUR 272 millions and EUR 409 millions respectively. Moreover, reconstruction of Troitskaya square requires EUR 9 millions and 1.5 kilometers hospitality zone of Olympic stadium – EUR 36 millions.
But instead deadline approaching we see it moving far-far away. There were several drop-dead date in June of 2011 with 190 millions cost, The Independence Day already having EUR272 millions construction cost. Now we got intermediate apogee – the late autumn and EUR 409 millions reconstruction price.
Nevertheless, the stadium will be open exactly in time for EURO 2012. The main point is safety of Michel Platini’s new suit. Hopefully, it will not be smeared with fresh paint or covered with repair dust.
The estimated cost of Donets airport was risen by Ukrainians authorities up to EUR81 million at the end of March. The new reconstruction cost is EUR196 millions and it doesn’t count other infrastructure that has to be build. Exactly one month later Government decided to rise up expenses for building Lviv Airport terminal by 2.24 times. Today the price of reconstruction accounts for EUR200 millions. The reason for such a mysterious rising was lack of required equipments in previously approved project.
However, Oleg Lysyk delivered good news and promised that there won’t be any correction in estimated cost of EURO 2012 facilities.

Eco and Ukraine

2011-05-27T14:23:00.000+03:00

Hey my dear readers!

The new project is here, it is called: "EcoChashka" ( or "EcoCup")

If you feel you have enough energy to drive and support GREEN LIVING, you should definitely join.

The website:

http://www.ingreen.me/ingreen

You can register online either as a volunteer or the one who can financially support these eco-actions in Ukraine. Follow this link: http://www.ingreen.me/register

24.05–05.06.2011

Kharkiv, Donetsk, Sevastopol, Odesa, Uzhgorod, Kyiv

Tel.: +380 (99) 716 11 07

Have a nice weekend!

Yours,
UkrInna

Your questions about Ukraine? What is particularly interesting for you?

2011-04-19T19:41:00.000+03:00

Dear Friends and Readers,

I would like to thank you for staying with me and showing your interest in my postings. In order to understand your interests even better I will be glad to hear what facts/stories/services/language peculiarities etc. you have a desire to explore. Ukraine is full of extraordinary people and situations, which might be a good asset for your future trip.

Your ideas are welcome!

If you don't want to share your ideas as a normal post, please feel free to write me on the following email: ukreuro2012@gmail.com

I hope you are enjoying your day/night.

P.S. What do you think about giving you some information about Russian/Ukrainian learning?

Best Wishes und Viele Grüsse!

Fukushima and Chernobyl, questions answered

2011-04-19T19:09:00.002+03:00

Radiation leaks from Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s earthquake-stricken reactors in northeastern Japan represent the worst nuclear power accident since the meltdown at Chernobyl, Ukraine, almost 25 years ago, scientists say.
Helicopters poured 30 metric tons of water today on pools used to cool spent fuel rods. No change in radiation was reported after four runs by the aircraft, Kyodo News said, citing plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. Once exposed, the spent fuel rods may catch fire and melt, spewing radiation into the atmosphere.
“Radiation levels are extremely high, which could possibly impact the ability to take corrective measures,” U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory Jaczko told a congressional panel in Washington yesterday.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the accidents at Fukushima, Chernobyl in 1986 and Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, in 1979. The information is drawn from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, the World Health Organization in Geneva and interviews with radiation safety experts in the U.S., Australia and India.
Q: How do the three accidents compare?
A: Events unfolding in Japan “appear to be more serious than Three Mile Island,” U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu told a congressional panel yesterday.
The disaster ranks 6 on a 7-step international scale for nuclear accidents, according to Andre-Claude Lacoste, head of France’s nuclear safety authority.
The International Atomic Energy Agency hasn’t updated the original rating of 4 on its website. Three Mile Island was rated 5 and Chernobyl was rated 7. Each additional point on this scale represents a factor of 10, so the accident at Three Mile Island was 1/100th as serious as Chernobyl, according to the agency.
Q: How did the reactors differ?
A: Fukushima’s 40-year-old reactor No. 2 used nuclear fission to heat water into steam, which powered a turbine. Such units are called boiling water reactors.
In the plant at Three Mile Island, pressurized water is pumped into the reactor core, where it gets heated. The hot water is then sent to a steam generator which is located outside the uranium-containing chamber. Both the Fukushima and Three Mile reactors had steel casings to protect nuclear fuel.
Fuel inside Chernobyl’s unit 4 wasn’t protected by steel. The reactor’s graphite buffer, used to slow high-speed subatomic particles, caught fire. The Fukushima and Three Mile reactors used water for the same purpose.
Q: What happened at Three Mile Island?
A: On March 28, 1979, unit 2 suffered a partial meltdown after water meant for cooling the uranium fuel was released from the containment chamber due to an equipment malfunction. There was no explosion and radioactive materials weren’t released into the environment because the chamber didn’t rupture.
Q: What happened at Chernobyl?
A: The accident was caused by a power surge that led to overheating at reactor No. 4. A resultant fire and explosions caused the containment roof to cave in and sent radioactive debris, including pieces of fuel rod, spewing into the air, destroying a nearby forest.
Radiation outside the blast area was about 50 times greater than the peak inside Fukushima, and at least 31 workers and firefighters died within a few months. An estimated 4,000 children and adolescents developed thyroid cancer after consuming milk contaminated with radioactive iodine, I-131.
Q: What are the sources of radiation at Fukushima?
A: Fuel rods at the plant’s No. 1 and No. 2 reactors, both of which were operating at the time of the temblor, may have been damaged, Tokyo Electric said. Pressure in the containment chamber of unit No. 2 fell yesterday, indicating that radiation may have been released after an explosion on March 15.
Radiation is also leaking from used fuel rods, a form of nuclear waste, stored in a pool near reactors No. 3 and No. 4. Water in the pool has evaporated due to radioactive heat, exposing the uranium-containing rods to the atmosphere. The exposed rods can emit radiation and lead to the production of radioactive iodine and cesium, both of which are cancer-causing agents. Helicopters and water cannons are being used to deliver water into these pools as it is too dangerous for onsite personnel.
An exposed worker at the edge of the pool would receive a fatal radiation dose in 16 seconds, said David Lochbaum, a nuclear physicist for the Union of Concerned Scientists and a former Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety instructor.
There are six reactors in the Fukushima complex, of which three were operating at the time of the earthquake.

Massive demand for UEFA EURO 2012 tickets

2011-04-10T22:56:00.000+03:00

More than 12 million requests have been made for UEFA EURO 2012 finals tickets between the window for applications opening on 1 March and closing on Thursday, 31 March.

The sale of tickets for the UEFA European Football Championship taking place in Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012 closed on Thursday 31 March with an impressive total of 12,149,425 ticket requests made by fans worldwide. This is an all-time record for the UEFA European Football Championship and represents an increase of more than 17% from UEFA EURO 2008.
With applications from no fewer than 206 countries worldwide, the demand for the various types of ticket available for UEFA EURO 2012 has exceeded supply for all matches of the final tournament. This means that lotteries will be carried out in order to allocate tickets. The lotteries will be made by UEFA under notary supervision between 19 and 22 April, and successful applicants will be informed via email before the end of April.
Polish and Ukrainian citizens have shown huge interest in purchasing tickets, to such an extent that nearly 88% of the overall requests have originated from the co-host nations. Among other countries with high application numbers, Germany with 2.82%, Russia with 1.16% and Switzerland with 1.00%, reflect the strong desire of their fans to attend UEFA EURO 2012.
The tremendous success of the ticket sales underlines the huge interest among football supporters in the finals in Poland and Ukraine, and proves that the event is eagerly awaited not only in the two host nations but also around the globe. Millions of fans are looking forward to a three-week celebration of the best that European national-team football has to offer in the summer of 2012.

Klitschko scores knockout in farcical fight

2011-03-21T16:06:00.000+02:00

World champion Vitali Klitschko defended his WBC heavyweight title on Saturday night in Cologne amid farcical scenes with a first-round knockout of Cuban challenger Odlanier Solis.

The fight was just three minutes old when Klitschko caught the Cuban on the top of the head and the 30-year-old rocked briefly before tumbling awkwardly to the canvas for the first defeat of his career.

The referee ruled the Cuban had injured his knee in the fall and was unable to continue, awarding Klitschko a technical knockout.

It was a bizarre end to a short fight and the champion was left shrugging his shoulders in frustration as the crowd at Cologne's Lanxess Arena booed their disapproval at what was effectively a non-contest.

"It's really bad luck, but I slipped and I picked up the injury," said a clearly embarrassed Solis.

"It will take me a lot of time to get over this, because I am not used to losing."

The fight will do nothing to boost Klitschko's credibility after he was taken to 12 rounds by America's Shannon Briggs last October, despite the US fighter having torn a bicep in the opening rounds.

"I'm disappointed, because that should have been the first of 12 rounds," said Klitschko, who struggled to make himself heard over the cat-calls from boxing fans.

"But after I hit him, he did not seem to want to keep fighting."

This was the 39-year-old's sixth defence of the title he won by beating Nigeria's Samuel Peter in Berlin in October 2008.

With younger brother Vladimir holding the IBF and WBO crowns, only Britain's David Haye, who is set to face Vladimir in June or July, stands between the Ukrainian siblings and domination of the weight division.

Having turned pro in 1996, this was Klitschko's 44th bout, his 42nd victory and 39th knockout, with only defeats to Britain's Lennox Lewis, in 2003, and America's Chris Byrd blotting his record.

Solis, 30, came into the fight with an undefeated record of 12 knockouts from 17 fights.

Enjoy this day!

2011-03-08T13:38:00.001+02:00

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Happy international women's day! A little bit of history...

2011-03-08T13:34:00.000+02:00

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.

1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Wommen's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.

2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.

Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.