Unlike Kharkiv and Donetsk, Lviv hasn’t got a single powerful oligarch to lobby its interests in the halls of power.
And, even though the picturesque medieval city was confirmed on Dec. 11 as one of Ukraine’s four host cities for Euro 2012, it doesn’t even have a stadium – yet. But all of these are minor details for the unofficial capital of western Ukraine, a potential tourist haven carpeted with cobble stoned streets which also seems to consider its host status as a function of its proximity to the European Union.
What Lviv does have is a mayor, Andriy Sadoviy, who has done “virtually everything” to prepare the city for the big football event, according to Oleh Zasadnyy, coordinator of the city’s Euro 2012 preparation. “You cannot get an oligarch to put up new traffic lights or pave the roads. Only local authorities can look after these kinds of details.”
In addition, Sadoviy promoted Lviv’s initial bid, allotted land for construction and hired contractors to do the work, Zasadnyy said.
But the mayor’s greatest contribution will ultimately be in whether he is able to get funding from Kyiv.
Airport upgrades, for example, entail the modernization of the old terminal, the building of a new terminal and temporary terminal, as well as runway projects. The new terminal is being built by a U.S. firm that won a tender, Zasadnyy said. The state will have to pick up the tab for the other three projects, which together with the new terminal will cost a total of 181 million euros. So far, 80 million euros have been spent – 47 million euros from the state.
As for the city’s new stadium, Hr 130 million has already been spent by the state, but it’s not clear where the remaining Hr 560 million will come from. “We have made an offer to the football clubs,” Zasadnyy said. “But this [Euro 2012] is a state initiative, so it’s natural that the state should find funds.”
In any case, Lviv is spending a lot less on its stadium than Donetsk, and as a result it will be five times smaller.
Increasingly popular as a tourist destination, Lviv has plenty of hotels, and so, may have the edge over other host cities in accommodating visitors. Nevertheless, the city has no five-star hotels and only two or three four-star ones. Although Lviv can build new hotels or remodel existing ones, this kind of investment is usually a private venture.
Zasadnyy said organizers are not worried. “We expect from 100,000 to 150,000 visitors for each match, but studies have shown that 65 percent of visitors to the tournament only come for the day and therefore don’t require lodging.”
However, the city and surrounding area only boast space for 35,000, with another 3,000 to 5,000 rooms expected to be built. Overflow will be sent to dormitories and the like, Zasadnyy said.
When asked whether there was a risk that Lviv might lose its bid on account of such logistical problems, Zasadnyy said: “UEFA will always have the right to change its mind. But that’s not stopping us from moving ahead.”
Kyiv Post staff writer John Marone can be reached at [email protected].
