Ukrainians get to see Euro 2012 logo
On Dec. 14, 2009, the Euro 2012 Football Championship logo was presented in Kyiv, reports UNIAN. The grand opening took place in Mykhailivska square. The logo is a football with two flowers. The championship slogan “Creating history together” was also presented.
The President of Football Federation of Ukraine Hryhorii Surkis emphasized at the ceremony that the Euro 2012 logo and slogan presentation in downtown Kyiv would be “a significant part in preparations for both the European Football Championship and a large-scale presentation of the original cultural palette of Slavic civilization cradle.” He also reminded about the UEFA decision on the Ukrainian host cities: Kyiv, Donetsk, Lviv, and Kharkiv, which are now officially approved. The final game will take place in Kyiv at the Olimpiisky stadium.
Surkis expressed gratitude to European football functionaries and personally to UEFA President Michel Platini. “On behalf of millions of Ukrainian fans I want to thank Union of European Football Associations represented by Michel Platini for our common victory on the difficult stretch that leads to our cherished goal,” emphasized Surkis, adding that now Ukraine is one step closer to Euro 2012.
How good is the logo for the future competition? We have decided to ask people who are competent in the issues of style and taste.
COMMENTARY
Serhii YAKUTOVYCH, Honored Artist of Ukraine, graphic artist:
“This logo looks naive in a good way, as our attempts to be in Europe. And I suppose that fellow Poles might take offence, because they are different. On the other hand, the logo is very nice, very intimate, and very appropriate. I can explain it by the fact that it was designed by a Portuguese designer, who is…just like us. The Portuguese, to some extent, also feel minor and provincial in Europe. I would say that the logo turned out to be in the style of, so to speak, ‘pseudopottery.’ There are no tricks in it. So, we will play Europe – not the shining one but as it appears in our perception or rejection. Frankly, I did not like it a lot. It is soccer, and soccer is, first of all, kicking the ball into the goal, not being hovering up in the clouds.
“Our problem is that we are constantly pulling European culture to us, instead of approaching it. It is very good that the basis of the logo is vytynanka (cutout) – this is the right way. But I suppose that in this case our inferiority with regard to Europe was emphasized. The logo emphasizes that in the perception of Europeans we and Poles, whom I love and respect, are different. There is not much self-esteem in this. But it is truthful – that is the point.
“The logo points to regress rather than manifests progress – these guys still have Easter eggs and cutout soccer balls. It seems that we have been humiliated. But we cannot offer anything of our own. OK, we’ll build ten more stadiums, a bunch of hotels, and distort Kyiv, Lviv, and Donetsk. We’ll host Euro…But all this is being done in a slightly wrong way. Unfortunately, we have little time for the right course of action.”
Khrystyna SHYBUT, fourth-year student, graphic design major, Kyiv National University of Technology and Design:
“The emblem represents growth and unites our countries in their striving to achieve their high goals in the near future. We can read the author’s message. The logo also conveys the special color palette of the Euro 2012 host countries. Such artistic idea as a flower is dear to the hearts of Ukrainians and Poles. Bright colors are a symbol of excitement and passion for soccer. In the center of the composition is a ball that looks like the sun, which has to warm up emotions.
“The color palette and the elements of national artistic symbols in the logo make it very pleasing to the eye. I think that the logo should not only interest and attract tourists to our countries, but also lift the spirits of both fans and people who are indifferent to soccer.”
