Ukraine has a strong chance to host the Winter Olympics in 2022 since the country gained experience in hosting the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship this summer, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said in Kiev on Wednesday.

"The success of Euro 2012 and the positive assessment of Carpathian mountains potential increase our chances in the bid for the 2022 Winter Games," Azarov said at the government meeting.

The Olympics are much bigger event than the Euro 2012 and it will be more difficult to host them, Azarov said, noting that Ukraine still has 10 years to prepare for the tournament.

Azarov said that he holds talks with the International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge and the presidents of several sports federations during the Olympic Games opening ceremony in London, adding that the officials have expressed optimism about Ukraine's sporting potential.

In the nearest future the government aims to attract around 1.4 billion U.S. dollars for promoting Ukraine's Olympic bid.

In 2014 Ukraine intends to bid the right to host the Winter Olympics 2022 in the Carpathian Mountains of western Lvov region.

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