“The final will take place in Kyiv. The rest is political dust”

All Euro-2012 stadiums in Ukraine and Poland have come under jurisdiction of UEFA and soccer federations. As the Local Organizing Committee UEFA Euro-2012 in Ukraine told The Day, the active preparation stage for the beginning of the games has begun, including the installation of temporary constructions, testing of game procedures, placing decorations and additional signages, equipping functional zones (hospitality zones, volunteer and accreditation centers, and media centers will be created in the stadiums or nearby) etc.

It seems that Ukrainian taxpayers may breathe a sigh of relief, as 80 billion hryvnias were allotted for the European football from their pockets [the head of the VR subcommittee for preparation and holding the final part of the European Football Championship in 2012, Party of Regions MP Oleksandr Zats has calculated that Ukraine has spend 100 billion hryvnias for the State Target Program of Preparation and Holding Euro-2012, 80 percent has been funded from the state budget. – Ed.]. It was not a waste of money, part of it may return, as we are expecting football players and fans to come to Ukraine.

Both Ukrainian and foreign journalists have thoroughly, sometimes even critically, followed all the stages of Ukraine’s preparations for the Championship. Sometimes the storm of negative reports seemed an attack on Euro-2012 in Ukraine rather than coverage of a preparation stage. However, it should be admitted, there has been a lot of fair criticism. Incidentally, it is very important that the Ukrainian government and UEFA have taken many remarks into consideration: the stand with the seats for handicapped people (the partition at the NSK Olimpiisky, behind which the disabled people were hardly visible from the football field), stewarding at the NSK Olimpiisky stadium (the recent matches on the stadium came without overcrowding), and finally, involving Ukrainian celebrities in the cultural program (the ceremony to mark bringing Henri Delaunay Trophy to Ukraine, which is awarded to the winner of the European championship, featured the bands SKAI, Krykhitka Tsakhes, TNMK, Vopli Vidopliasova and Haitana) etc.

Now, as we have entered the homestretch, it is important to know how we look like. For this see below The Day’s interview with Markian LUBKIVSKYI, Tournament Director, head of the Local Organizing Committee of Euro-2012 in Ukraine.

Mr. Lubkivskyi, you have many times underlined that Euro-2012 is a chance for Ukraine to show itself, to improve its image. So far we have not made use of this opportunity, mildly speaking. Moreover, there are concerns that after the tournament the Europeans’ liking for Ukraine will decrease.

“I dislike the expression ‘to improve the image.’ Either we have an image, and we need to maintain it, or we have none, and it needs to be shaped. And above all we need to achieve this within the country. I want as many fans as possible to come to Ukraine. And I am not afraid that they will see a patched road or not repaired facade.

“For Europeans, Euro-2012 will be a kind of discovery of Ukraine, because so far, due to certain circumstances, it remains under a whole layer of various cliches, stereotypes, and horror stories. And this covering is hard to remove by an artificial improving of the image. It will be better for people to come here and see with their own eyes what they may as well encounter in their own countries on a daily basis. We often don’t notice positive realities that are present in our country. If we get abstracted and change our vision, we will be able to see that Ukraine and Ukrainians are no worse than others.”

You say you are not afraid that people will see patched roads, shabby facades etc. What are you afraid of?

“I am not afraid of anything, because I know pretty well how the process of preparations was proceeding, and at what point we are today.”

Why are Ukrainians so pessimistic about the picture of preparations for Euro-2012? Most of them still think that the preparations are failing.

“I’m surprised to hear this, because Ukraine has fulfilled practically all the UEFA requirements. Unfortunately, there simply are many people and institutions, both in Ukraine, and abroad (I don’t want to tell the names), who abuse the topic of Euro-2012. They use it for their own purposes: either to boost their rating, or with a political aim. Speaking about the political component, I should emphasize that politics and sport, specifically football, are incompatible things.”

What should we think, when high-ranking officials of practically all European countries, whose combined teams are taking part in Euro-2012, are boycotting the tournament in Ukraine, for political reasons? What consequences will it have for the championship and our state?

“Let’s speak in concrete terms, without exaggerating things. Nobody has announced boycott to the tournament. Some European politicians have made statements that they were giving it considerations, whether to visit the Euro-2012 finals in Ukraine. This is their right. We are preparing a grandiose football feast for millions of fans all over the world, above all Ukrainian football-lovers. And this feast is going to take place.”

IS EURO-2012 A COMMERCIAL OR IMAGE-MAKING PROJECT FOR UKRAINE?

Is Euro-2012 a commercial or image-making project for Ukraine? Will Ukrainians manage to bring back what they have lost and profit, of course?

“This project comprises all the elements you’ve listed. For me (maybe, a diplomat is speaking in me now), this is a geopolitical project. But the image-making and commercial aspects are of no less importance. And surely, there is a sports aspect. Therefore Euro-2012 is of several serious meanings for Ukraine. Of course, people care more about the economic component.”

Indeed they do.

“For the first time over 20 years of Ukraine’s independence new airports, terminals, runways, and platforms have been built. The new infrastructure cannot even be compared to the old one; this is a totally new level, a principally new level and services. On the other hand, the cities have replenished their public transportation vehicles: new buses and trolleybuses have been purchased. Everything will stay when Euro-2012 is over. The main thing is what we gain in the end, and UEFA has many times emphasized this. Incidentally, for UEFA as a responsible organization it is critically important that all the innovations and implementations that will have emerged in Ukraine, work after Euro-2012. For example, if a simplified border-crossing procedure is implemented, it should operate after the tournament. And we are constantly discussing this issue with the Ukrainian government, frontier and customs agencies. Triggered by competition, the level of services is gradually improving.

“UEFA will play for Ukraine the role that should have been played by the European Union. I have many times said this and will emphasize again that UEFA is bringing Ukraine up to the European standards. These changes may be not so global as those that could have taken place, if Ukraine joined the EU, but at the same time it is an approaching to the routine European values: bringing to order the work of taxi, using the traffic lanes for emergency vehicles, police cars, and public transport. This is a good impetus to change for us. But of course Euro-2012 won’t resolve all of our problems.”

Most importantly, it should not create new ones. Do you know the opinion that Euro-2012 may end in an economic collapse for Ukraine? Won’t the tournament bring us to ruin?

“I don’t think so. The Ukrainian state has indeed undertaken the whole burden of investments. But it did not have much of a choice.”

If this project is commercially attractive, why didn’t the investors put money in it?

“Because we did not have time. The constructions have been accomplished over the past three years. Pressed for time, the state had to undertake this burden, because we failed to find investors in 2007, 2008, and 2009. The situation was very complicated. How is it possible to find an investor two years prior to the start of the championship? And not just an investor, a businessman who will agree to put money in an object that is under construction. The state had to undertake the burden. And as we see now, these objects have been accomplished. Next question arises: how to manage them after Euro-2012, so that they did not turn into a white elephant? This question is also on our agenda. The Dynamo Kyiv FC is now playing at NSK Olimpiisky and will continue to do so, restaurants are being opened there and various culture-entertainment events take place. We would like Lviv’s Arena to develop in a similar way. But unfortunately, Karpaty FC has refused to play on the newly-built Lviv stadium. But in my opinion they will come back to it. Besides, the concerts of Red Hot Chilly Peppers, Madonna, and Scorpions are scheduled at Kyiv and Lviv arenas. They will bring some profit.”

You have mentioned NSK Olimpiisky. What was UEFA reaction to the regrettable incident with squashes during the Dynamo-Dnipro match? Did not it happen because the stadium was not ready and certain works had not been accomplished?

“No. Tell me, what was the situation during the game with Poltava’s Vorskla FC or the final game of Ukraine’s Cup Championship between Donetsk’s Shakhtar and Metalurh? There were no squashes. This is the reaction. We have analyzed the situation you have mentioned and considered all the details with the team of the stadium. Every time we make a detailed analysis of the game that is taking place on the stadium. We report on every game and put marks for every stadium (we have four zones, red, orange, yellow, and green) and look whether the arena worked in one or another segment. So, the most recent game at the NSK Olimpiisky proved that in terms of management Kyiv stadium already meets the standards to host European football championships.”

So, are you sure about the readiness of NSK Olimpiisky?

“We can be sure about Donbas Arena and Kharkiv’s Metalist. We are putting major efforts in improving the situation in Lviv.”

What are their greatest problems?

“The team of the stadium is only taking shape and improving its performing. The construction works have just been accomplished. They lack the practice of hosting football games. But assisted by experienced experts from the UEFA, this stadium is very quickly mastering the fundamentals of organizing football games on top level. Everything will be fine.”

UKRAINIANS AND POLES ARE COMPETING FOOTBALL PARTNERS

Over the past 20 years we have been comparing our country with Poland, in terms of history, economy, and geopolitics. Surely, we have good relations with Poles. But apparently, in the situation with Euro-2012, every side is hogging the blanket, with UEFA comparing both of us. Do you inquire about their situation with the preparation for the championship?

“I know what their situation is. The UEFA philosophy is very correct: two countries and a single tournament. UEFA does not divide us based on the level of readiness. The UEFA has never fueled the rivalry between us, but it has always skillfully encouraged a good competition. Both Ukrainians and Poles have received signals that Ukrainians speaking conditionally, are ahead of Poles by a nose.”

Seemingly, more often we hear signals that Ukrainians are lagging behind.

“There are different projects. You will never hear from me whether we are better than Poles or worse, because I stick to the philosophy followed by the UEFA. I will only say that in terms of some projects we are better, and in terms of others – Poles are. But apparently, Ukraine has faced at least two times more complicated task, because we are located in a different geopolitical space. Besides, the Poles have achieved a substantial funding from the EU. In a word, it was clearly more difficult for us, and I am gratifying that Ukrainians have managed and still manage to accomplish the set task well.”

Did the Polish state, too, undertake the whole burden of investments?

“I would say that like us, they have involved private investors in building the key objects to a very small extent. But Poland has received serious financial assistance from the European institutions.”

A friend of mine has recently come back from Poland and shared her impressions. In her words, in Poland this preparation is taking place in a very natural way: the country is anticipating Euro-2012, whereas we seem to pass a certain exam. And it is important for us to show something.

“It was much easier to arrange the tournament in highly developed Austria and Switzerland (Euro-2008). Definitely, Ukrainians have had to work twice harder and resolve more complicated tasks than the Poles. Hence such feeling. Incidentally, my UEFA colleagues, who had prepared the previous tournaments, are openly delighted with the pace the construction works are taking place in Ukraine. Martin Kallen, UEFA Operations Director has many times said that it would be impossible for Switzerland. On the other hand to show off is the feature that Ukraine has inherited from the Soviet time.”

How would you comment on Stanislaw Kaczynsky’s proposition to move the final game of Euro-2012 from Kyiv to Warsaw?

“There’s nothing to comment on. The final game will take place in Kyiv. The rest is political dust.”

“WE HAVE UKRAINIFIED THE UEFA WEBSITE”

As for the culture program, on the one hand, inviting Shakira or Anastasia to perform at the stadium’s opening is an attempt to show to the world that we are within the world’s context. On the other hand, these are enormous honoraria. Say, the stadium in Warsaw was launched by Ukrainian Haidamaky. For me personally minimizing the participation of Ukrainian, truly talented, celebrities, in the cultural program of preparations for Euro-2012 that was a great minus. What is the situation now? What will the culture program be?

“I see no big problem in this concern. I want to give you an example of creating the mascots for Euro-2012. Everyone wanted the mascots to have a Ukrainian flavor. On the whole, the process of creating talismans was very interesting and fascinating. There have been several propositions. I personally supported the cats invented by Ivan Malkovych and painted by Kost Lavro. The UEFA in the very beginning set the task to propose the animals typical of our mythology. We decided there will be cats. Then discussions began. Poles for some reason disliked this image. So, cats did not fit. Then two boys were invented. At first they did not have names. We invented Ukrainian attributes for our boy, a vyshyvanka, kraika, and the freckles. Later we selected distinctive names.

“In fact it was a very complicated task to merge the cosmopolitanism that is now dominating in Europe and comes to our country, with Ukrainian realities. Therefore I see nothing bad when international singers perform at the opening ceremonies, and wonderful Ukrainian singer Jamala – at the final draw. She will continue to take part in the culture program of Euro-2012. Moreover, our singers will perform in the fan zones. We closely cooperate with Oleh Skrypka, TNMK, and Slava Vakarchuk.”

Please, share the details.

“I can’t. This is a secret so far. For example, before the matches we will have ceremonies in every city, which are going to last for five to seven minutes, when the whole world will see that this is Lviv, or Kharkiv, or Donetsk, or Kyiv.

“We have Ukrainified the UEFA website. This is a great achievement, too. And look at the transliteration of the cities’ names. Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lviv, not Lvov [Russian transliteration of the city’s name. – Ed.]. These are elements of our self-identification, proof of our authenticity.”

You are working on the cultural program for the UEFA “family.” What are the main accents? Where will UEFA bosses go apart from the events of Euro-2012 to get better acquainted with the country?

“The culture program for the UEFA ‘family’ is only a small segment of what the foreign fans will see in Ukraine. You need to keep in mind that everyone will come to see football. Nobody will go, say, to the regular exposition in Taras Shevchenko or Lesia Ukrainka museums. When in 2008 I went to Austria to Turkey-Croatia match, I was not going to visit the museums of Austrian or German literatures. So there are three elements we want to draw attention to. First, it is the sacral architecture (the tours in Kyiv Cave Monastery, Sofia Kyivska, St. Michael Golden-Domed Cathedral etc.). Second, it is the art of the Cossack time (tours to Mamaieva Sloboda). And finally, Ukrainian contemporary art (tours to Andriivsky uzviz, Mystetsky Arsenal, PinchukArtCenter, and following examples of Portugal and Austria, modern sculptures have been erected around the city). This should be an insight of what Ukrainians are. Apparently, there is also Ukrainian hospitality. I strongly believe that the tournament will somewhat change our minds too. The routine has turned us into gloomy and always busy people. And here you will have to say hello in a lift, apologize when you accidentally hurt someone, stop and slowly give directions. These are good manners in Europe. On the whole, Euro-2012 aims to produce lots of pleasant emotions. People will communicate and celebrate victories till late at night and get upset because of the defeats, shout joyful slogans.”

“IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD SO EAGERLY SAVOUR THE PROBLEMS OF OWN COUNTRY”

The opposition forces promise other slogans, political and social, during the mass protest actions which they intend to organize during the championship.

“They should not forget about the guaranties all key Ukrainian political forces, in particular opposition, gave to UEFA concerning the support of the tournament.”

It is common knowledge that joint cultural breakthroughs and sports victories are best in uniting a nation. Apparently, Euro-2012, especially if Ukraine’s combined team successfully performs, may become an accumulator of unifying energy for us. How can we use it ourselves, preventing the politicians from doing this in view of the approaching parliamentary elections?

“I have already said that the goal of the championship that Michel Platini and UEFA set before themselves is to bring joy to people, not politicians. On the other hand, we are too self-critical. Everyone remembers the situation with too high hotel prices, which we have been able to improve. So, I have recently talked to English journalists. We started to speak about the hotel prices (London is getting ready for the summer Olympic Games). It has turned out that the prices there have soared by 500 percent. Incidentally, Manchester, the largest industrial center of England, which resembles our Donetsk, does not have enough hotels to accommodate everyone willing to come to any big tournament. Or let’s take the Ukrainian police. Yes, it needs serious changes. Probably most of our policemen do not know English at all. But an Italian policeman in Milan or Napoli will hardly reply in English, only in Italian.”

What is your opinion about the advertisement which has recently appeared in Holland? (It features a wife, who comes across photos of half-naked Ukrainian beauties, while reading some information about Ukraine. In the end we hear a slogan: don’t let your husband go to Euro-2012, buy him a home brewery kit.)

“You should take everything with a sense of humor. This video promotes an energetic company. Incidentally, have you seen the ad where romantic trip to Paris is opposed to the football tournament in Ukraine? A girl makes a face, because she dreamt about Paris, whereas her boyfriend can’t wait to go to football tournament in Kyiv. This is an ad of a website, selling sports equipment.

“That’s why I keep telling: come and see everything firsthand. Clearly, not everyone will be satisfied. But this contact between us is very important: it will help to overcome many stereotypes.”

Nonetheless, don’t you have an impression after so many scandals (hotel overpricing, bus transporting, taxi services, the treatment of homeless animals etc.) that there is a purposeful information war being waged with an aim to destroy Ukraine’s image?

“I do.”

A Danish acquaintance told me that in Denmark the central TV channel shows a video with Ukrainian policemen use sticks to disperse the fans. And nobody says these events took place 10-12 years ago.

“And I recall another video: a Danish fan, it seems to me during a game with Sweden in 2007, turns on the referee. I doubt that some purposeful campaign is being waged against Ukraine. Most likely, these things happen because of lack of knowledge. I am outraged by something else. It is hard to imagine Croatians, for example, who would so eagerly savor the domestic problems of their country. (I have served for three years as Ukraine’s ambassador to Croatia.) Here we are speaking about national dignity.”

As a former diplomat, can you say how much will we lose from these scandals?

“As soon as the first games take place, everyone will forget about scandals. Believe me, we are not original. Portugal had scandals too, as well as Austria and Switzerland, say, asserted flow of life on the whole.”

If a force majeure takes place, are you ready to undertake the responsibility?

“I have undertaken it by leaving diplomatic service and starting to work on this project.”

In your opinion, will the championship be able to shorten the psychological-emotional remoteness of Ukraine from Europe?

“Euro-2012 cannot fuel the negotiation processes we are leading with the European Commission on Ukraine’s integration in the European community. However, the tournament will help to achieve the European living standards. For example, we now have such phenomena as volunteers and stewards (civilians present at the games instead of the police and tasked with solving the conflict situations). These are new standards of sports management. Besides, we have implemented new standards of management in airports and hotel business. We have started to talk about taximeters, the taxi fare. Even if the situation won’t get better after the tournament, it will burst some time later: nobody is going to use the dirty, smoke-screened taxi cars, when there are better ones; no one will be eager to pay more, when there is an opportunity to pay less for better services. This will boost the development of the market. This is a kind of self-regulation. Probably, the changes that are taking place are not so evident now, but the process is underway.”

Recently The Day has completed a questionnaire: “What needs to be done in order to properly prepare for Euro-2012?” The first response we got from a disabled man Mykola Podrezan. He said that the approaches to the stadium are inconvenient and the places for disabled are bad.

“What object did he look at?”

NSK Olimpiisky, architectural sights, and cultural monuments.

“The stadium is gradually changing. We have indeed had a situation, when before the sector for handicapped people there was a wall. We have removed it. We have prepared for thousands of handicapped people to come to the championships, not only with musculoskeletal system disorders, but also visually and hearing impaired. Moreover, the disabled will be assisted by the people who accompany them.

“I want to draw attention to the following thing: disabled persons need to be integrated in the Ukrainian society, like everywhere in Europe. But this will not be achieved by Euro. Only by people themselves.

“In Zagreb at a parking station, near the parking lots for handicapped people I saw a plate: ‘You’ve taken a parking lot from me. Are you ready to take my disability?’

“Therefore we keep saying that Euro-2012 is a stimulus to change, and we should do the rest.”