Ukraine"s leaders on Friday joined to praise a UEFA decision to allow the former Soviet republic to host its full share of games for the Euro 2012 football championship, according to dpa. "For such a victory, particularly in a year of crisis, the whole nation has had to work night and day," Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said at a Kiev press conference in Kiev. Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko, a political enemy of Tymoshenko"s, used similar language, calling the UEFA decision "a victory for all Ukraine," in a statement on the Presidential web site. The UEFA executive committee on Friday gave Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv the nod at meetings on the Portuguese island of Madeira after originally picking only Kiev (as host city, but not for the final yet) on May 13 for the tournament Ukraine co-hosts with Poland. Leaders of the city of Kiev were even more outspoken in registering pleasure at the UEFA"s decision that the Ukrainian capital would despite earlier delays in stadium preparation host the final of the June 9-July 1, 2012, tournament. "We have made a giant step forward! We have won! Kiev will be a worthy host for the Euro 2012 final! This is a historic moment for the entire country, we have broken through into a united Europe!" a declaration by Kiev Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky read in part. UEFA head Michel Platini will travel to Kiev on December 14 to unveil the Euro 2012 emblem, and attend a gala outdoor concert held in Kiev"s central Maidan Square, the Interfax news agency reported. "We invite all citizens and guests of our city to celebrate this event, which al of footballing Europe had been waiting for," concluded the Chernovetsky statement. Ukraine"s vicious Presidential election campaign was nonetheless not forgotten by officials hailing the UEFA decision, with Prime Minister Tymoshenko accusing President Yushchenko of undermining the country"s Euro 2012 preparation effort, by vetoing government funding for stadium construction and transportation infrastructure repair. "I hope the President can change his mind on this," Tymoshenko said. Yushchenko in November refused to sign into a law a government funding bill for Euro 2012 preparations, citing a lack of cash in the government budget, and his unwillingness to allow deficit spending. "All preparation work will be completed on time, and at a high level of quality," Yushchenko said. "The European championship will be a true massive sports holiday for us all." Ukraine"s chance to host the tournament was "our national project...outside of politics, it is our national priority," Yushchenko said. Delays in Ukrainian preparations, particularly stadium repair and tourist infastructure development, had resulted in UEFA threat that if Ukraine"s government failed to pick up the pace, all but one Ukrainian city would lose hosting rights, and the final would be held outside Ukraine. UEFA also warned on Friday that "tThere is still a huge amount of work that must be undertaken by all host cities and the Government of Ukraine to guarantee the full and proper implementation of the tournament requirements.
