Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that preparing for the Euro-2012 European Football Championship was a difficult task for the Ukrainian economy, but the country coped with it.
"The organization of Euro-2012 was a real trial for the crisis-stricken Ukrainian economy. Two years ago we were behind the schedule in terms of hotels and transport infrastructure," he said in Kyiv on Thursday at the official reception on the occasion of the end of Euro-2012, which was attended by Ukrainian government officials, ministers, the leadership of the Football Federation of Ukraine, the coaching staff of the country's national team and UEFA officials.
Yanukovych said that co-hosting the event gave a new impetus to the development of the Ukrainian economy. Euro-2012 helped Ukraine upgrade public transport in its cities, build modern airports and runways, build 2,200 kilometers of roads and repair 4,000 kilometers of motorways, he said.
"We have brought Ukraine closer to Europe," the president said.
