Orange Announced as Official Euro Sponsor

Orange has been announced as a sponsor for the 2012 European Football Championships – better known as UEFA Euro 2012.

The Euro 2012 competition will be held in Poland and Ukraine in June and July next year.

Bespoke content and services for its customers has been promised by Orange and will offer official mobile phone application for EURO 2012.

Olaf Swantee, EVP of Operations in Europe for Orange, said “This is a significant and exciting announcement for Orange. There are huge synergies between the Orange brand and the values of UEFA and the European football championship. Our commitment to honesty, fairness and delivering the best possible experience at all times will be brought to life in the lead up to and during the tournament with content, competitions and experiences that bring our customers closer to both brands.”

In 11 European countries: the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, France, Slovakia, Romania, Austria, Luxembourg, Moldova, Switzerland and Armenia,Orange will be the event’s official telecommunications partner.

Euro 2012 boss denies improper contracting

On Tuesday,in the official meeting for Ukraine's preparations to host the Euro 2012 football championship denied hundreds of millions of dollars of construction contracts to overhaul the country's biggest stadium had been awarded improperly.

"I am not, and will not be, neither directly nor through relatives, a stakeholder in companies that perform contract work for Euro 2012," said Borys Kolesnykov, in a statement to the Ukrainska Pravda news website.

"Not even (in a company) that delivers balls to the stadium," said Kolesnykov, head of the National Agency for Euro 2012.

Ukrainska Pravda,one of the most popular independent news sources has revealed that the statement came by Kolesnykov after an investigative article published by Ukrainska Pravda, identifying three companies allegedly closely linked to Kolesnykov as the recipients some €407 million of contracts to overhaul Kiev's Olympic Stadium.

Euro 2012 logo license pays off

For the production of Euro 2012 gadgets license agreements with UEFA run into millions of zlotys.

For deals with UEFA to use the Euro 2012 logo there are about 30 Polish companies are to compete.

50 deals were signed amounting to EUR 200 million during the Euro 2008 championship in Austria and Switzerland (by 100% more than during the Euro 2004).

“Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” reports, It is possible that another record will be set this year.

Companies who purchase licenses should be more interested in developing the brand than in the one-time profit, Jacek Bochenek of Deloitte is quoted as saying by “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna”.

The Euro 2012 merchandise consist scarves, cups, pillows and books with the Euro 2012 logo, the image of the UEFA cup and Euro 2012 mascots.

One year before the planned championship,the first such products are to demonstrate in Poland in June.

Speed accepts Bellamy’s offer to quit as Wales captain

Craig Bellamy’s wants to drop down as national team captain and his offered has been approved by Wales manager Gary Speed.

Due to Craig injury issues he has decided to quit as a skipper because he will be unable to play every game for Wales.James Collins and Ashley Williams and Fulham’s Simon Davies looks to be strong candidate for captain’s post.

“I’ve accepted Craig’s offer as that is the sensible way to go,” said Speed.

“The nature of Craig’s injuries is that he won’t be able to play every game,” said Speed.

“For example the first game in Ireland, Cardiff and Swansea play two games before so the way Craig’s injuries have affected him before, we know he will not play in that game.

“It is sensible and logical if you are picking a captain, and you know Craig is not going to be there all of the time, to give the job to somebody else.”

Football Star Punched By Pitch-Invader

A Stevenage player was punched by a fan while celebrating a shock FA Cup victory against Newcastle,Football Association is to launch an investigation on it.

A supported ran on the pitch and hit Defender Scott Laird at the final whistle.His League Two side beat their Premier League opposition 3-1 in the live televised match at Stevenage's Lamex Stadium.

Laird celebrating on the halfway line following the game but astonished approached by the fan who punches Laird directly in the face, knocking the player to the turf.

Stevenage manager Graham Westley said the attack marred the most glorious night in the club's history.

Westley said: "Scott Laird was stood celebrating with the fans and a fan just came over and smashed him from the side.

This time it was a fist - who knows what it could be next time.

"He went to the ground and it is a shame for the afternoon to end in that way.

"He is a bit bewildered. He (the fan) gave him a right-hander, just smashed him across the cheek and knocked him to the ground.

Lubkivsky expects rush on Euro 2012 tickets

Tickets for the matches of the Euro 2012 European Football Championship finals will be affordable for Ukrainians and their sale will start in March 2011 through the official Web site of UEFA, Euro 2012 Director in Ukraine Markiyan Lubkivsky has said.

"We already know how much they (the tickets) will cost. But we still cannot disclose this information. I would say only that the prices will be less than those in Austria and Switzerland (the price of the tickets for Euro 2008 started from EUR 50)," Lubkivsky said in an interview with the Soviet Sport newspaper published on Tuesday.

"He stressed that in compliance with the UEFA policies, the tickets should have affordable price for the countries, which host the tournament.

According to the Euro 2012 director, the price of the tickets will be the same in Poland and Ukraine.

"I expect a rush on the tickets. I think that most of the fans will book tickets on the official site of UEFA," Lubkivsky said.