The training of personnel, in particular teaching them English, is one of Ukraine's priorities as it prepares to jointly host Euro 2012, the country's deputy premier said on Tuesday.
"We need to teach 120,000 people to speak English. We must start teaching them now so they will not forget the language by July 1, 2012," Borys Kolesnikov, the deputy prime minister in charge of preparations for Euro 2012, said.
He added that the Ukrainian Ministry of Education has already begun work on the issue.
Kolesnikov said Ukraine's preparations for the tournament are proceeding and that he was confident all the necessary facilities would be built in time for the event.
Ukraine's readiness to hold the 2012 tournament, which it is to share with Poland, has been a constant source of concern for UEFA.
UEFA President Michel Platini previously warned that Ukraine could lose its right to host the championship due to the slow pace of stadium construction in the capital, Kiev, where the Euro 2012 final, among other matches, is due to take place.
Kiev is one of the four Ukrainian cities due to host games at Euro 2012. Kharkov, Lvov and Donetsk are the other three. The other half of the matches will take place in the Polish capital, Warsaw, and in the cities of Poznan, Wroclaw, and Gdansk.
Besides the more rapid construction of sports facilities, UEFA has required Ukraine to improve its roads, ensure sufficient accommodation for tournament guests and the proper operation of airports.
DONETSK, July 20 (RIA Novosti)
