Epicenter K signs on as Ukraine EURO sponsor

Epicenter K, Ukraine's leading home improvement retail company, has been announced as the first national sponsor for UEFA EURO 2012 at a special ceremony in Kyiv.

The sponsorship agreement represents a further step in Epicenter K's commitment to the development of football in the country, given the company are a long-standing partner of the Ukrainian game, including support for the Ukrainian Premier League. Epicenter K will benefit from a wide range of rights, such as perimeter boards at all matches played in Ukraine – including the final – the ability to run ticket promotions for its customers, as well as licensing rights for the manufacture and sale of UEFA EURO 2012-branded products in the home improvement category.

UEFA Events SA CEO, David Taylor, said: "It is UEFA's intention to have four national sponsors in Ukraine and in Poland. This announcement is the first of its kind and it shows Ukraine leading the way in an important activity relating to EURO 2012.

"It seems particularly appropriate that the first national sponsor – Epicenter K – sells products for building and renovating, as it's almost a symbol of the change that has taken place in Ukraine in recent years. It is also appropriate that the first national sponsor for EURO 2012 is also a sponsor of both professional and grassroots football in Ukraine."

Galyna Gerega, founder of Epicenter K, added: "We have been title sponsors of the Ukrainian Premier League for the last three years, and the next huge step for us is this agreement with UEFA. I am proud we have become the first of eight EURO 2012 national sponsors. We are grateful to UEFA for their trust and understand it is a great responsibility for us."

Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) president Grigoriy Surkis said: "They say dreams come true. And today one dream has come true. It's symbolic that here, in the biggest hypermarket of building and renovation, which has an area of more than four football pitches, we announced the first national sponsor for the biggest sport event in our country's history.

"It is another huge step towards EURO 2012, and I'm sure that in a little more than 500 days Ukraine will welcome thousands of fans from the whole world who later will leave with unforgettable memories."

The UEFA EURO 2012 commercial programme consists of ten sponsors with global rights, and also offers four national sponsor spots for companies in Poland and four spots in Ukraine, with national sponsors' rights being limited to the territory of the designated host country.