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Why a european soccer tournament is turning into a pr disaster forukraine by ferujkll sdff
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Why a european soccer tournament is turning into a pr disaster forukraine by FERUJKLL SDFF
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| Article Posted: 10/01/2012 |
| Article Views: 68 |
| Articles Written: 2023 - MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS AUTHOR |
| Word Count: 1088 |
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Why a european soccer tournament is turning into a pr disaster forukraine |
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When Ukraine was selected in 2007 to co-host this year's Europeansoccer championship — one of the biggest sporting events onthe continent — it was supposed to represent a chance for theformer Soviet Republic to finally cast off its reputation as anEastern European backwater and move closer to the West. Now, abouta month before Euro 2012 is scheduled to kick off on June 8, theplight of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko isthreatening to turn the tournament into an own goal for the countryand its authoritarian President Viktor Yanukovych. Tymoshenko, the gold-braided hero of the Orange Revolution thatblocked Yanukovych's first run at the presidency in 2004, has beenjailed since October after receiving a seven-year sentence forabuse of office. She claims she was badly beaten on April 20 whenprison guards transferred her to a hospital to treat her chronicback pain. Since then, Tymoshenko has been on a hunger strike— and Western leaders have become increasingly vocal in theirdemands for her to be freed.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hascalled for her release and a number of European leaders have saidthey will boycott the Ukrainian-held soccer games next month. Theincreasing pressure over Tymoshenko comes as Ukraine is alreadysuffering from bad publicity over alleged sweetheart contracts fortournament preparations, astronomical hotel prices and recentexplosions in an eastern Ukrainian city. "Euro 2012 isn't going tobe the triumphant presentation of the country we dreamed of fiveyears ago," wrote Mustafa Nayem, a columnist for news websiteUkrainska Pravda, on May 2. (Photos: Rosh Hashana In Uman, Ukraine) When Ukraine was chosen to co-host the tournament with neighborPoland, the Orange Revolution was still fresh in people's minds.After the pro-Russian Yanukovych won an election that was widelyviewed to be rigged, thousands took to the streets to protest theresult, forcing another election that was won by pro-Western ViktorYushchenko.
But Yushchenko's term was marred by infighting betweenhim and Tymoshenko and the duo's inability to overhaul thecountry's suffocating bureaucracy and tackle endemic corruption.Delays to much-needed infrastructure improvements — demandedby the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which runsthe European championship — prompted the organization tothreaten to take away the tournament in 2009. In February 2010, Yanukovych took office after a narrow victoryover Tymoshenko and quickly consolidated power by making changes tothe constitution and appointing loyalists to the government. Healso ordered efforts to prepare for Euro 2012 redoubled, toutingthe tournament as a way to bring Ukraine closer to the rest ofEurope. Construction of airport terminals, roads and stadiumsaccelerated.
And UEFA was duly impressed: Last month, Yanukovychwon praise from Michel Platini, the head of the organization, whosaid that a meeting with the Ukrainian President in 2010 was theonly thing that convinced him the country would be ready to host. (MORE: Will Ukraine Choose a Sympathetic Russia over a DemocraticEurope?) But hurrying the preparations came at a price. Critics accuse topofficials of handing out large state contracts to well-connectedcompanies. "Euro 2012 started as a way to attract investment, butturned into a feeding trough for top officials," says OstapSemerak, an opposition lawmaker.
The government has denied anywrongdoing, saying it selected firms fairly. As preparations spedalong, Yanukovych also tightened his grip on the country.Prosecutors and the Ukrainian security service, whose chiefs areappointed by the President, opened criminal probes into Tymoshenkoand a dozen of her allies. Tymoshenko was convicted in a trial theWest condemned as politically motivated. A second trial forembezzlement and fraud starts later this month, which could seeTymoshenko's term increased to 12 years. A top Tymoshenko ally andformer defense minister was convicted of abuse of power last month,as well, resulting in a five-year prison term.
The West has slammed the prosecutions as politically motivated.Following Tymoshenko's conviction, the European Union shelved aplanned free-trade and political-association agreement withUkraine. Then, after Tymoshenko's camp published photos on April 27showing three bruises she claims were caused by her prison guards,European leaders began announcing their boycotts of this summer'ssoccer tournament. Jose Manuel Barroso, the European CommissionPresident, said he wouldn't attend any games in Ukraine, as did thegovernments of Austria and Belgium. A German government spokesmansays German Chancellor Angela Merkel's attendance at the tournament"is conditional on the fate of Ms.
Tymoshenko." In addition, atleast 10 European leaders, including German President JoachimGauck, have said they will not attend a Central European summithosted by Ukraine later this month. (MORE: Can Europe Tempt Ukraine Back to Democracy?) Despite the condemnations, prosecutors have refused to open a probeinto Tymoshenko's alleged beating. The government has also reactedangrily to the threats of European leaders to boycott the games. Aspokesman for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said a boycott would be aCold War tactic.
"The attempt to politicize sports events isdestructive," the ministry said in a statement. For Yanukovych, themain concern appears to be the effects a public snub by Europeanleaders would have on his ability to portray himself as a leaderwho can bring Ukraine closer to Europe ahead of parliamentaryelections in October. "The argument that (the government) is doingsomething in the European direction is under serious threat," saysAlyona Getmanchuk, director of the Institute for World Policy, athink tank in Kiev. Tymoshenko isn't the only headache for authorities — securityhas become a concern, as well. On April 27, four bombs explodedalong a tram route in the eastern city of Dnipropetrovsk, injuring30 people.
Ukraine has no known terrorist threat, and authoritieshave been tight-lipped on who could have been responsible forplanting the bombs. Some analysts speculate the bombings could havebeen related to a battle between criminal business groups, comingtwo weeks after the gunning down of a wealthy businessman in thecity. But authorities insist the country is safe for the up to 1million visitors who are expected to attend the tournament. Anothermajor embarrassment for the country has been the price gouging thathas seen hotel prices rise by as much as tenfold for thetournament.
Platini, the UEFA chief, has accused "bandits andswindlers" for the price hikes, and critics say it could keep manyfans away. The government has pledged to take measures to bringprices down. Some Ukrainians, meanwhile, have taken the defense of theircountry's reputation into their own hands. Maksym Prodan, a26-year-old human resources manager, has started a website calledrooms4free.org.ua, which helps connect foreign fans looking for aplace to stay with Ukrainians who can host them. "We want to see asmany people here as possible," Prodan says.
"Politics and Ukrainianpeople are separate." PHOTOS: TIME's Pictures of the Week. I am Screen Protectors writer, reports some information about andis flat iron , panasonic tv parts.
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