Is Euro 2012 the most scandal-filled football event in recent history?
“Ukraine’s prostitutes hope to cash in on Euro 2012.”
“Whose awful idea was it to host Euro 2012 in Ukraine, anyway?”
These are the headlines that title much Western-based media coverage of the current Euro 2012 football match.
The intent of these articles is questionable: Do they help get information out? Or do they simply degrade the already poor image Ukraine has on the European stage, an image that the government has not in any way attempted to make better? In fact, arguably, the Ukrainian government has only helped to make the image worse.
Is the Western media helping, or is this coverage coming with a cost to the already fragile reputation Ukraine holds among its Western European and American peers?
Outside of the usual sports reporting concerning the rounds of the cup, there has been a high volume of articles covering more sensational and political aspects of the cup’s controversy. Everyone from local news media to national broadcasters have taken notice, especially in many Western European nations.Whether focusing attention to particular smaller issues or covering the more broad scope of the controversy, most ask the same questions: Is the decision to choose Poland and Ukraine as Euro Cup hosts one that the UEFA should be regretting?
The issue lies not with the question, but rather more in the treatment and coverage of possible answers in the media. The practice of erasing details and giving broad statements to explain these issues is being misused, in my opinion.
Big issues – racism, freedom, and the safety of football fan visitors – are being painted with a large brush that oftentimes blurs the lines of facts and sensationalism.
Various incidents such as the now infamous racially-motivated Krakow taunting are being used as wide examples. The way that this information is presented reflects poorly and inaccurately on the people of Eastern Europe, and how they treat visitors and players. News outlets are further fueling the flames by raising questions about the safety of visiting players and fans.
Ukraine lacks the PR machinery required to handle this sort of
misrepresentation, and it can be questioned if the government has the
motivation to deal with these issues the way other nations might.
This is not to say that these are not genuine questions to be considered, just that the treatment of these issues oftentimes paints a wrong picture of the open-mindedness and ethics of Ukrainian and eastern European soccer fans.
The other large issue regards recent political upsets plaguing Ukraine. The use of them in cup coverage has become quite troubling. Hot-button incidents like the Yulia Tymoshenko case and human rights abuse are relevant, but are often misused and exploited in these articles. Editorials and opinion-motivated pieces are citing these incidents as prime examples of how more established, “safer” European nations should be the ones allowed to host such events.
Ukraine lacks the PR machinery required to handle this sort of misrepresentation, and it can be questioned if the government has the motivation to deal with these issues the way other nations might. Lack of action has already damaged Ukraine’s reputation in the opinions of the public who read this media for basic information.
Instead of this event being used as a way to advance Ukraine’s role in the European stage and promoting its attractions, tourism, and rich cultural heritage, it suffers more setbacks. It loses the respect of nations, such as Germany and the United Kingdom, many of whom make it clear their hostility towards games being played in Ukraine.
Such poor reporting and lack of action can further damage Ukraine’s profile in the world. The people of Europe deserve a healthy, fun football match.
Choosing Poland and Ukraine as the hosts of the 2012 Euro Cup was done with good intent that has been blackened by such practices.
I sincerely hope that visitors to the nation taste the fine hospitality of the Ukrainian people and sample the life there.
May they find that stereotypes and examples are not true – and that even as the government digs a deeper hole for itself, the people put on a good match and come together in the spirit of national pride and sportsmanship, displaying the true cultural and historical wealth Ukraine has.
Salome Gongadze is a student, artist and writer studying at the H-B Woodlawn Program in Washington, D.C. The daughter of Georgiy and Myroslava Gongadze, she is interested in international politics and issues involving Ukraine.
