Kyiv, a host city for this year’s Euro Cup, has scrubbed its floor for all the thousands of fans who have made their way over to our wheat fields. As the Final game approaches, in celebration, a free benefit concert was thrown. As the billboards promised Elton John and Queen+Adam Lambert were throwing a benefit concert to help fight AIDS. And best of all it was FREE!
That morning I awoke and quickly rushed to get ready. If I wanted to even catch a glimpse of these brilliant artists, I had to be there at minimum 5 hours early. My uncle and I jumped onto the Metro made our way to the Fan Zone, where the concert was being held. When we arrived, the Fan Zone was already swarming with people. The energy was up, the fans wild. We made our way to the stage, but it was blocked by at least 20 security guards. Confused we asked why we couldn’t go straight the stage. Thats when we realized, that this “free” concert involved a giant screen with many speakers, but if you wanted to actually see the stage you had to go into the “Premium Zone” which of course involved purchasing a ticket.
When news of this concert surfaced, fans were ecstatic. The best part being that it was free. Director of the ANTIAIDS Foundation Elena Pinchuk said herself “Some reports have come out saying that there will be a fee to enter the concert on June 30 – this is not true. We want to see thousands of people to come to the concert, enjoy great music, be inspired, and become informed on how to protect themselves from fighting AIDS, free of charge.” Of course the only free part of her statement was that these fans were left simply facing a big screen. But the stage completely blocked.
So how did I get to see the concert? Here’s the catch, as we found out by the security guards. First you go to a tent owned by Carlsberg beer, you buy 5 glasses of beer for Hr 100. Then they give you a ticket for the premium zone. But for all those not able to afford this high price, you were left facing a giant screen of what was going on around the corner.
Which goes to say that they lied. “Free concert” was just a portrait painted of how it was about a benefit concert for the people. Although the only ones who truly enjoyed the magic of this phenomenal concert was those who walked out with Hr 100 less.
Anya Komisaryk is a Ukrainian citizen who resides and attends in San Francisco, where she attends San Francisco State University in California.
