The Euro 2012 soccer cup, co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine, might go down into the history of international tournaments as the most politicized event of post-communist Europe – contrary to the expectations of the organizers, who initially pledged not to mix sport and politics.
Violent clashes at the streets of Warsaw, followed by attacks by Polish radicals on groups of Russian fans forced PM Tusk and President Putin to intervene personally and call for restraint.
While Polish officials were trying their best to downplay the incidents as something totally not related to politics and committed by obscure groups of hot-heads, or “idiots”, to quote Tusk, the explanation didn’t sound credible.
To me, the “moments of collective madness” were something more than just chaotic acts of hooliganism, which can happen anywhere in the world, as any soccer cup brings such an outbursts of emotions as no other game.
I know pretty well that Russian are far from being angels. However, there is more than one reason to believe that recent incidents involving Russian citizens in Warsaw has a distinct whiff of politics. Parts of Western and Polish media were fuelling anti-Russian sentiments – intentionally or not – and playing on the dark instincts and prejudice of the ill-natured Polish “patriotism”.
The most telling example was the publication in the Polish edition of Newsweek, with a front-page picture of Polish national team coach Franciszek Smuda, dressed in the uniform of Jozef Pilsudski, who was the commander of the Polish troops in the 1920 battle with the Red Army. The battle led to the latter’s humiliating defeat and is naturally described in Polish history books as the Miracle on the Vistula (ironically, the Vistula River runs through the Polish capital near the arena where Russian and Polish teams played).
"Poland-Russia: Battle of Warsaw 2012”, the headline read. The Polish Newsweek publication was echoed by Super Express local daily, which hit the stands with the headline "Faith, Hope, Smuda" – a new reading of the old Polish army saying "Faith, Hope, Motherland."
“In 1920 the Russians also thought they would win, however, they got a spanking," the paper said, calling on Polish team to create “Miracle on the Vistula 2" (the game ended in a draw).
“Miracle on the Vistula 2" seems to remain just wishful thinking – to the utter disappointment of Polish radicals as well as Ukrainian nationalists from the UNA-UNSO organization, who never forget how their grandfathers fought the Soviet Army during the Second World War.
Just days before the Poland-Russia Euro 2012 game, UNA-UNSO announced it would grant awards to the Polish team players, provided they beat Russians in the Warsaw national stadium.
Not to forget: historically, Russian-Polish relations have had many ups and downs that are rooted over centuries. Nevertheless, while Polish and Ukrainian nationalists tried to use Euro 2012 as a chance “to score the points of history” with Russia – another reminder that in the post-Communist Europe history still burns – European governments were politicizing the cup their own way.
Well ahead of the tournament, international pressure was mounting on Ukraine over its treatment of jailed former prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. As a result, nine European leaders have refused to attend a Central European summit in Yalta, Crimea, initially slated for this May.
The refusal came as a sign of growing EU displeasure at Tymoshenko's plight. Several top European politicians also made themselves clear they would boycott the Euro 2012, dealing a blow to the Ukrainian leadership’s initial hopes the cup will be a showcase for the country as a modern European nation.
In fact, the championship was expected to become a moment of triumph for Ukrainians. Ukraine was the first former Soviet republic to host the European soccer championship. And its leaders hoped it would signal the country’s emergence from an authoritarian past and its embrace of Western values.
In order to avoid major political scandal and ease tension, on the eve of the tournament EU leadership somehow softened its stance, hinting that the absence of European leaders in Ukraine is not, in fact, a “boycott”. As European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said, "We have never used the word 'boycott' in the European Commission and the EU Council."
All in all, while the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other members of the Commission would not see the Ukraine matches live in an official capacity, EU commissioners can attend such events as private individuals.
As for the boycott, I think it is something from the vocabulary of the Cold War. It is high time to recall the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. A massive celebration to demonstrate the superiority of the communist system in the Soviet capital was disrupted through a US-led boycott. The reason was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the previous year. Four years later, the Soviet Union predictably retaliated for the humiliation by boycotting the second Games to be held in the “City of Angels”.
It should be recalled that, while voicing his reservations over Tymoshenko trial, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against any boycott. "I think that under no circumstances should one mix politics, business and other issues with sports. One should leave sports alone," Putin said.
Whatever the truth, I personally believe that boycotts are ineffective and obsolete. I feel pity for the sportsmen who have to perform on a highly-politicized landscape. As Euro 2012 showed, this landscape, which is not of their own making, is scarred by a profound unevenness.
Reference [RT.COM]
Violent clashes at the streets of Warsaw, followed by attacks by Polish radicals on groups of Russian fans forced PM Tusk and President Putin to intervene personally and call for restraint.
While Polish officials were trying their best to downplay the incidents as something totally not related to politics and committed by obscure groups of hot-heads, or “idiots”, to quote Tusk, the explanation didn’t sound credible.
To me, the “moments of collective madness” were something more than just chaotic acts of hooliganism, which can happen anywhere in the world, as any soccer cup brings such an outbursts of emotions as no other game.
I know pretty well that Russian are far from being angels. However, there is more than one reason to believe that recent incidents involving Russian citizens in Warsaw has a distinct whiff of politics. Parts of Western and Polish media were fuelling anti-Russian sentiments – intentionally or not – and playing on the dark instincts and prejudice of the ill-natured Polish “patriotism”.
The most telling example was the publication in the Polish edition of Newsweek, with a front-page picture of Polish national team coach Franciszek Smuda, dressed in the uniform of Jozef Pilsudski, who was the commander of the Polish troops in the 1920 battle with the Red Army. The battle led to the latter’s humiliating defeat and is naturally described in Polish history books as the Miracle on the Vistula (ironically, the Vistula River runs through the Polish capital near the arena where Russian and Polish teams played).
"Poland-Russia: Battle of Warsaw 2012”, the headline read. The Polish Newsweek publication was echoed by Super Express local daily, which hit the stands with the headline "Faith, Hope, Smuda" – a new reading of the old Polish army saying "Faith, Hope, Motherland."
“In 1920 the Russians also thought they would win, however, they got a spanking," the paper said, calling on Polish team to create “Miracle on the Vistula 2" (the game ended in a draw).
“Miracle on the Vistula 2" seems to remain just wishful thinking – to the utter disappointment of Polish radicals as well as Ukrainian nationalists from the UNA-UNSO organization, who never forget how their grandfathers fought the Soviet Army during the Second World War.
Just days before the Poland-Russia Euro 2012 game, UNA-UNSO announced it would grant awards to the Polish team players, provided they beat Russians in the Warsaw national stadium.
Not to forget: historically, Russian-Polish relations have had many ups and downs that are rooted over centuries. Nevertheless, while Polish and Ukrainian nationalists tried to use Euro 2012 as a chance “to score the points of history” with Russia – another reminder that in the post-Communist Europe history still burns – European governments were politicizing the cup their own way.
Well ahead of the tournament, international pressure was mounting on Ukraine over its treatment of jailed former prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. As a result, nine European leaders have refused to attend a Central European summit in Yalta, Crimea, initially slated for this May.
The refusal came as a sign of growing EU displeasure at Tymoshenko's plight. Several top European politicians also made themselves clear they would boycott the Euro 2012, dealing a blow to the Ukrainian leadership’s initial hopes the cup will be a showcase for the country as a modern European nation.
In fact, the championship was expected to become a moment of triumph for Ukrainians. Ukraine was the first former Soviet republic to host the European soccer championship. And its leaders hoped it would signal the country’s emergence from an authoritarian past and its embrace of Western values.
In order to avoid major political scandal and ease tension, on the eve of the tournament EU leadership somehow softened its stance, hinting that the absence of European leaders in Ukraine is not, in fact, a “boycott”. As European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule said, "We have never used the word 'boycott' in the European Commission and the EU Council."
All in all, while the European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other members of the Commission would not see the Ukraine matches live in an official capacity, EU commissioners can attend such events as private individuals.
As for the boycott, I think it is something from the vocabulary of the Cold War. It is high time to recall the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. A massive celebration to demonstrate the superiority of the communist system in the Soviet capital was disrupted through a US-led boycott. The reason was the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan the previous year. Four years later, the Soviet Union predictably retaliated for the humiliation by boycotting the second Games to be held in the “City of Angels”.
It should be recalled that, while voicing his reservations over Tymoshenko trial, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against any boycott. "I think that under no circumstances should one mix politics, business and other issues with sports. One should leave sports alone," Putin said.
Whatever the truth, I personally believe that boycotts are ineffective and obsolete. I feel pity for the sportsmen who have to perform on a highly-politicized landscape. As Euro 2012 showed, this landscape, which is not of their own making, is scarred by a profound unevenness.
Reference [RT.COM]
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