BUDAPEST, April 11 (Xinhua) - Hungarian and Croatian football officials on Wednesday expressed optimism about winning the right to host the European football championship in 2012.

    "I am certain that we will win the rights to host the event," Croatian football association chair Vlatko Markovic said.

    He noted that the joint bid submitted by Hungary and Croatia to co-host the championship had been well received at all presentations in the past.

    Minister for Local Government and Regional Development Monika Lamperth, who is also responsible for sports, expressed support to the tender committee.

    She announced that the government had decided at a meeting earlier on Wednesday to provide additional 200 million forints (about 800,000 euros) for the programme which had an initial budget of 200 million forints.

    UEFA will announce the location of the 2012 European football championship in Cardiff. Apart from Hungary and Croatia, Poland and Ukraine also submitted a joint bid, with Italy on its own.