September 14- A new scheme has been launched to promote Poland’s and Ukraine’s joint hosting of he 2012 European Championships with world heavyweight boxing champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko among the first to sign-up.
The scheme, Friends of UEFA Euro 2012 in Ukraine, has aims to sign up a combination of personalities and ordinary citizens to spread he word of the tournament on a global scale.
“I have been a friend of Euro since April 2007 when I took part in the final presentation [of Poland and Ukraine’s bid] in Cardiff, and now it’s a great pleasure for me and my brother to join this honoured group called Friends of Euro,” said Vitali Klitschko at Ukraine’s second Friends of Euro event after the scheme’s launch earlier this month in the Poland.
The Klitschko brothers signed up at the local organising committee headquarters in Kiev , following the appointment of their country’s initial four members - Olympic champions Sergey Bubka and Valeriy Borzov, publisher Ivan Malkovych and singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk - at the Kyiv Intercontinental Hotel earlier this month.
Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) president Grigoriy Surkis, Deputy Prime Minister Borys Kolesnikov, UEFA Events operations director Martin Kallen and Ukrainian tournament director Markiyan Lubkivskyi welcomed the two national sporting icons whose mission it will be to promote the tournament throughout the world.
“The Klitschko brothers are great worldwide representatives for Ukraine, and I’m sure they will represent the Euro 2012 with the same success,” said Kallen.
“What can go wrong at Euro [2012] with such friends?”
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko sounded an equally confident note.
“I have no doubts EURO 2012 will be a triumph for our country - in terms of football, economy and infrastructure development,” he said.
“The great Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Sport has the power to change the world.’
“I agree wholeheartedly and want to rephrase that: ‘Euro 2012 has the power to change Ukraine.’
“With hard work I believe we can organise a world-class tournament.
“However, this is a task not only for the LOC, the Government, UEFA or the Klitschko brothers and friends; it’s a task for all Ukrainians.”
Wladimir Klitschko (pictured), who holds the IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts, backed his brother.
“We know what Euro 2012 can do for us, but now it’s time to ask what we can do for the tournament,” he said.
“Every Ukrainian has to contribute to this national project.
“I attended matches at the FIFA World Cup in Germany and UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, and I remember the wonderful festival atmosphere.
“I want all Ukrainians to be friends of Euro 2012, so that every visitor to Ukraine in summer 2012 will feel like they are among friends.”
Up to 100 people in both Ukraine and Poland will be officially nominated as Friends of Euro - half of them public figures selected by the organisers, with the remaining spots open to the general public via various competitions for people of all ages.