You're reading: Yanukovych issues instructions on preparations for EuroBasket 2015

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to within a month form an organizing committee chaired by the premier to prepare for the EuroBasket 2015 European Basketball Championship.

According to a posting on the president’s Web site, the head of state on Thursday signed a relevant decree, No. 74/2012, on preparing for and holding the European Basketball Championship 2015 finals in Ukraine.

According to the document, the government’s organizing committee must develop and approve an action plan for the preparations for the championship in 2012-2015 within two months.

It is planned to build and modernize sports arenas and other sports facilities in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv to put them in line with the requirements of International Basket Association, FIBA Europe.

The facilities will be put in operation not later than December 2014. In addition, funding will be allocated for the construction, investments will be attracted for the preparation of the infrastructure for the championship, security of public order will be ensured and medical services will be organized in the abovementioned cities.

According to the document, the cabinet has to develop a state program for basketball development in Ukraine within a month. By June 1, the Cabinet of Ministers jointly with the Basketball Federation of Ukraine will have to expand the list of cities that would host the EuroBasket 2015 finals according to the requirements of FIBA Europe.

The president also ordered Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv city state administrations and Kyiv City State Administration to form relevant organizing committees, as well as draft and approve within two months regional action plans for the preparations for EuroBasket 2015.

The administrations will have to comply with the regulations of FIBA Europe, stimulate investment activity in this direction, and allocate funds for the preparations from their local budgets.

According to the document, the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine has to organize coverage on the preparations for and holding the EuroBasket 2015 finals in Ukraine in the media.

As reported, on December 17, 2011 Ukraine received the right to host the European Basketball championship among male teams in 2015. Ukraine proposed to host the championship in its largest cities, including Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lviv, Kharkiv and Kyiv.