The jubilation
that erupted in Poland and Ukraine after UEFA's April 2007 decision to award
them the event evaporated last year as construction delays with stadiums,
roads, airports and hotels in both countries fueled reports that UEFA could
hand the tournament to a backup host -- possibly Italy, Germany or Scotland.
But those
concerns have eased following a successful meeting with UEFA president Michel
Platini in December, after which the former
While
progress has been made, recent visits by Associated Press reporters to five of
the eight planned host cities indicate both eastern European states still have
much to do.
With 3
years to go,
Evhen
Chervonenko, the former head of the country's 2012 organizing committee, said
the tournament "is one of our great chances to turn
Preparations
in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, nestled in rolling hills about 70
kilometers (45 miles) from the Polish border, lag farthest behind and show just
how far Ukraine has to go to reach western European levels.
A
crumbling, one-lane road riddled with potholes runs from the border to Lviv,
winding though towns and villages along the way. Chickens peck at the muddy
shoulder of the road in some spots, while in others dogs wander across the
pavement.
The
city's airport dates from the late 1950s. The main waiting lounge is no larger
than a tennis court and doesn't have a bathroom.
Work has
begun, however, on a new 33,000-seat stadium near the city's southern bypass
that provides easy access to the main road east to
Preparations
are more advanced in
In the
capital
"
The venue
is to host the tournament's final, and UEFA has warned without a renovated
stadium
But badly
needed upgrades to
The
country has to add or modernize runways and build new terminals in all of the
host cities. Construction work is already under way at
The
country has also vowed to upgrade thousands of kilometers (miles) of
dilapidated roads that outside of the main cities are often little more than
single-lane ribbons, cracked and crumbling.
Vasyunyk
said the country has to build and renovate a total of 300 hotels, about 100 of
which are still being designed. But the former head of
Ukrainian
officials estimate the entire project will cost around $30 billion -- 1/3
coming from state coffers and the rest from private investors.
But the
world financial turmoil has devastated
The
situation is further complicated by a bitter power struggle between Prime
Minister Julia Tymoshenko and her former political ally, President Viktor
Yushchenko. The two leaders are likely opponents in presidential elections
expected in late 2009 or early 2010, and both are eager to take credit for Euro
2012 and control the vast funds set aside for the project.
Despite
the enormous challenges, Vasyunyk vowed
By Ryan Lucas, Associated Press Writer
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