By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
January 25 – Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Boris Kolesnikov (pictured), who is in charge of the country’s preparations for Euro 2012, is in stable condition in hospital after suffering a heart attack.
Kolesnikov was taken to hospital yesterday and immediately underwent surgery, Yuriy Hromnytskyi, his spokesman, said.
Kolesnikov will be off work for two weeks to three weeks, it is estimated.
“The heart attck was followed by surgery, which was held successfully,” Hromnytsky said.
Kolesnikov had been due to travel Brussels today to discuss the preparations for the Championships, which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland, with the European Commission and the European Parliament, a meeting that was scheduled to coincide with 500 days until the start of the tournament in Warsaw on June 8, 2012.
Siim Kallas, European Commission vice-president in charge of transport, had been scheduled to meet Kolsnykov for talks on possible EU financial Assistance.
Kolesnikov is one of Ukraine’s most powerful businessman and a close political ally of President Viktor Yanukovych who had been brought into oversee preparations for Euro 2012 in Ukraine following criticism from Michel Platini, the President of UEFA.
Platini claimed he has been impressed with the improvements since Kolesnikov took over.
“We have seen tremendous progress in the last year, including new stadiums inaugurated and new air terminals put in operation,” he said.
“The pace of the work has made us at UEFA very confident that the necessary infrastructure will be ready well in advance.
“Five hundred days may seem a long time to go, but for an event of such magnitude every day counts and we are going to continue our fruitful partnership with the Governments of the host countries, the host cities and the local organising committees to ensure a festive and unforgettable UEFA Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.”
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