Ukraine starts free hosting project for Euro 2012May 21, 2012 - 20:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A group of Ukrainians on Monday, May 21 announced a project to provide free accommodation, translation and other services to foreign football fans attending next month's European Championship, AP reported. The Friendly Ukraine initiative unites several Web sites and offers such things as rooms, airport pickups and guided tours to football fans free-of-charge. Organizers say accommodation may be modest, but it will come from the heart and will be free. ''Ukraine is a friendly country, Ukraine is a hospitable country,'' said program coordinator Viktoria Svitlova. ''We are changing the image of the Ukrainian people.'' UEFA President Michel Platini has called on the government to stop ''bandits and crooks'' from ripping off fans with exorbitant accommodation prices. There aren't enough hotel rooms and some fans will have to live in camps and Soviet-era student dormitories. Critics worry such publicity will damage Ukraine's reputation even as officials hope the championships will attract tourists beyond the sports event. ''Positive reviews of Ukraine are very scarce these days, we want to change that,'' said Ihor Zavilinsky, whose volunteers will take fans on free city tours and provide translation services. Euro 2012, jointly held with Poland, begins June 8. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Erdogan’s approval rating falls below 40 percent: survey A total of 53.4 percent of respondents said they disapprove of the performance of Erdoğan. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. |