Ukraine denies racism threat during Euro 2012

Kiev - Ukrainian foreign ministry Friday denied that racism may in any way be involved during Euro 2012 soccer championship.

“You can see and understand that the Ukrainian people are tolerant and hospitable. It seems inappropriate to me to talk about this kind of risk,” the spokesperson of the ministry of internal affairs Volodymyr Polishchuk told reporters here.

However, he said, foreigners should be aware of some risk of a criminal nature, in particular about pickpocketing, pilferage in different trade establishments and other public places.

Polishchuk also informed that the ministry has created a special booklet for foreigners, where all the possible risks are described in details.

Earlier this week, some British media have warned fans to be extra cautious as they could be targeted by racist thugs during the championship which Ukraine co-host with neighbouring Poland.

The 16-nation event slated for June 8 to July 1 will take place in Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Lvov, Donetsk and Kharkov and Polish cities of Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Poznan with over 1.4 million fans from over 100 countries and regions expected to come.