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Euro 2012 sets Ukraine tough test
2007-08-13 15:11:11 | source: BBC

The industrial heart of eastern Ukraine was glowing in a beautiful sunset as local heroes Shakhtar Donetsk took on their arch-rivals Dinamo Kiev.

Yet the Soviet-era stadium looked small and a bit too old-fashioned for Shakhtar Donetsk, one of the country's top teams.

There are concerns that Ukraine may not be ready in time for the Uefa European Football Championships in 2012, which it will co-host with Poland.

It will be the most prestigious project that Ukraine has ever co-hosted, and it is expected to attract thousands of fans.

But there are fears that the politicians here do not have their eye on the ball.

Donetsk is one of four host cities in Ukraine. All of the venues were built by the communists, and they are well past their best, needing to be replaced or renovated.

Ukraine has faced one political crisis after another and now the country is preparing for a general election.

"The most difficult thing will be to change the attitude, to make the authorities look in the direction of football and start paying attention to the country's infrastructure," says Dmitriy Chigrinsky, a player for Shakhtar Donetsk and Ukraine.

"It's no secret that our country needs serious modernisation," Dmitriy adds.

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