Culture news 
Kiev will demonstrate the touristic map, created for EURO – 2012, in February
Development of the map of touristic routes is about to be finished at Kiev State City Administration.
“You will see the complete map in February. There are unusual excursions among the routes: about Kiev underground spaces, starting from the caves of Lavra and finishing with the most mysterious underground spaces. We also have a project, which enables to examine Kiev from the height of a balloon flight. There will be more traditional tours about the temples – Kiev Pechersk Lavra, St. Sophia`s Cathedral, Mikhailovskiy Zlatoverhiy Cathedral, the temples of Podol. Routes about museums, parks, islands of Kiev will also be included” – the first Deputy Head of Kiev City State Administration Aleksandr Mazurchak said.
According to “Segodnya”, tourists will be offered to start their balloon flight in Hydropark. After flying over the city, they will be able to land in Pirogovo. Another variant – a balloon will be fixed on the ground by a long rope and it will be possible to raise it high in the air to enjoy the city from bird`s eye view.
As to underground spaces, fans are planned to be taken about Litaevsk and Zverinets caves and one of the underground routes will run through underground lunettes around the Kiev Fortress.
According to the Head of the Commission on Culture and Tourism of Kiev Administration Aleksandr Briginets, official routes are conducted by licensed guides, they have maps, they are affirmed by the City Hall and are checked for security. Unofficial ones can be run by any guide and held anywhere; no one is responsible for their authenticity and security” – Briginets says.
It will be possible to get information about excursions, provided by the City Hall in special inquiry offices, which will be placed all over the center of the city. They will be controlled by the Direction of Tourism of The KSCA and special police helpers. “These are people who will trace illegal guides and help to keep beggars off” – Briginets says.
At KSCA they plan to invite students – philologists as guides. They will be able to tell about the city not only in English, but also in German, Italian, French and Spanish languages.
An underground excursion will cost about 80 hryvnas (about 8 Euros). It is not much, considering the fact that, for example, in Greece and Austria there is no excursion cheaper than 20 Euros. And a 5-minute balloon flight is planned to cost 60 hryvnas per person. An hour will cost about 3200 hryvnas.
Private companies also develop their routes for tourists. “For example, we plan to demonstrate the houses, where former and current leaders of the city and the country lived. We are also considering the ides of an excursion, devoted to the memory of the famous football coach Lobanovskiy, fans will find it interesting” – the guide Elena Krolivets said.
Focus
11 January 2011
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Kyiv, December 28, 2011. A famous Ukrainian folk singer Oleg Skrypka performed a renewed version of the winter holiday classic Carol of the Bells originally composed by Ukrainian Mykola Leontovych. This new rendition of the world renowned tune became a soundtrack for the freshly released Ukrainian animation film Shchedryk.
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07.12.2011 Australia Contributes to Chornobyl Fund
Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kevin Rudd announced that his country would donate one million euros for the Chornobyl Shelter Fund. Minister Rudd made his statement at the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Vilnius on December 6, 2011.
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22.11.2011 Festival Chervona Ruta Preserves Authentic Ukrainian Music
For the twelfth year in a row, the Ukrainian festival Chervona Ruta has opened the stage for the new talents performing Ukrainian music of different genres. The number of this year’s participants has set the record, bringing together 850 young musicians and performers. New to this year’s festival is the collaboration of performers from all regions of Ukraine.
22.11.2011 World of Rugby League: Ukraine celebrates five years in Rugby League
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17.10.2011 Ukrainian Painting Sets a New Record at London Auction
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03.10.2011 NSK "Olympic" to open a grand show
October 8 will be held the opening ceremony of one of Europe's largest sports complexes - NSK "Olympic".
29.09.2011 There will be held song festival in the Kyiv region.
October 1
at the Center for Culture and history, “Park Kievska Rus” (p. Kopach, Obukhov, District,
Kyiv region) will be a song festival" Slavic soul ".
12.09.2011 Europe’s Largest Fountain Opens in Ukraine
A unique musical illuminated floating fountain opened in the Western Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia on September 4, 2011. The fountain is the world’s only floating fountain mounted in the natural body of water and by its technical parameters can only be compared to one such water facility in the world – the Dubai Fountain.
05.09.2011 Ukraine Wins Gold in Triple Jump at 2011 World Championships in Athletics
Ukrainian Olha Saladuha became gold medalist in the 13th World Championships in Athletics, held in Daegu, South Korea. Saladuha won the finals in the triple jump competition among females and became the world champion.
31.08.2011 Three Ukrainian Soccer Clubs Go into Europa League Group Stage
Dynamo (Kyiv), Metalist (Kharkiv), and Vorskla (Poltava) won Thursday’s second legs of UEFA Europa League play-offs. Vorskla became the first Ukrainian team to make it to the group stage in the season of 2011-2012.
31.08.2011 Two Giant Fish Images Across the Border Become a Symbol of Polish-Ukrainian Unity
A Polish artist Jaroslaw Koziara created two giant images of fish on the grass on each side of the Polish-Ukrainian border. The tail of the first image lies on the territory of Poland with its head on the Ukrainian territory. The second fish is positioned facing the opposite direction. The artist intends to send the message of unity of the two countries – nature and art know no borders.
19.08.2011 Kyiv to host flower exhibition for two weeks
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