Bondarenko sisters lend support for EURO

Ukrainian tennis playing sisters Olena and Kateryna Bondarenko have become the latest Friends of UEFA EURO 2012.

Winner of five International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles finals, 27-year-old Olena reached a singles ranking high of 19th in the world in 2008, the year she partnered Kateryna to the Australian Open women's doubles title.

"Sport should continue to develop in Ukraine, encouraging Ukrainians to play football and tennis," said Olena. "Hopefully they will be getting behind us and the national football team next year." Kyiv-born Kateryna added that while the sisters spend much of the time out of the country, developments have not passed them by. "We travel a lot and notice all the improvements made, in particular those relating to Kyiv's airport and roads."

The sisters were presented by Ukrainian tournament director Markiyan Lubkivskiy in Kyiv and bring the total of public figures and celebrities to receive the honour to 40 out of an eventual 50. Another 50 spots are destined for the Ukrainian general public via competitions open to all ages; tournament co-hosts Poland are also well on their way to nominating 100 Friends of EURO.