Popular Ukrainian singer-songwriter Gaitana has composed a song for the next summer's tournament and is joined on the track by her fellow Friends of UEFA EURO 2012.
Gaitana, who earlier this year wrote Shakhtar are Champions! to mark the Dontesk club's 75th anniversary, is to release her 2012 celebration, entitled Viva Europe, in two versions – one solo and another where she is accompanied by 16 young Friends of EURO who earned the honour in an art competition and joined her in a Kyiv recording studio at the weekend."Given that we have been awarded this status [Friends of EURO] and are undertaking such a mission, we have to match this honour and encourage people to support next year's championship with our full commitment," Gaitana said.
One hundred people in both Ukraine and Poland, the UEFA EURO 2012 co-host nations, are enjoying the privilege of being nominated Friends of EURO. Half of those selected by their respective local organising committees (LOCs) are well-known individuals; the remaining places went to competition winners, ranging in age from five to 95 years old.
