A contract agreement about organisation of Men’s EURO 2012 in Serbia was signed today in Belgrade between Serbian Handball Federation and EHF. At the press conference spoke Serbian and European representatives followed by huge media interest. With this agreement is now definitely that EURO 2012 will be play in four Serbian cities – Belgrade (“Pionir” – 7.000 capacity – “Arena” 19.500), Novi Sad (“Spens” – 10.000), Vršac (“Millenium” – 5.000) and Niš (“Čair” – 5.000). The sports hall in Niš was a problem. Old “Čair” should be changed for a new multifunctional “Car Konstantin” sports hall, but due problems with a local government of Niš, this project is cancelled in the very last moment. A new plan is reconstruction of old “Čair”, who will response on all EHF standards after that. The ending date is September 2010.
Tor Lian, president of EHF:
– A long time ago, we started to work on EURO 2012. Since 2007, than 2008, when Serbia got a chance to organise, for us, the most important event, until qualification draw for EURO 2012 in last April. We are here again, 14 months before the start, to sign agreement with our partners from Serbia. We wish that in cooperation with them to make a fantastic tournament.
Velimir Marjanović, president of SHF:
– This is some kind of ceremony, but also, a public obligation for us. From the early start of this project, we have fully support of our Government and all sports institutions in our country. I want to thank to EHF for their act of understandings, because is our first candidature, with this four cities, after many problems, accepted. That is, normally, increasing our responsibility for all of our tasks. I hope that everything will be fantastic here and I am sure that 1,5 billion spectators around Globe will see Serbia and TOP European handball in the “right light”.
EURO 2012 will be play from 17th until 29th of January 2012.
