Kick off and resume the game

"It’s the first European Championship played in Eastern Europe, a milestone in the history of UEFA football competitions. The work of the organizers should be equalled by the players’ commitment, by the coaches’ determination, by the referees’ expertise and notably, by the fans’ enthusiasm, whose contribution is fundamental". Michel Platini, president of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) with a glorious past of football champion, isn’t the kind of person who fails to acknowledge the typical problems linked to soccer games, nor to deny the polemics prior to Euro 2012. However, on the eve of the kick-off, his appeal is to focus on the sport event.International limelight. The opening of the European football games, that take place every four years, will take place June 8 in Warsaw, when the national teams of Poland (co-organizing country with Ukraine) and Greece will field. The finals will be held in Kiev on July 1st. The games will be disputed in 8 cities, 4 in Poland and 4 in Ukraine with the participation of 16 teams, divided into four rounds: Poland, Greece, Russia and Czech Republic (group A); the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Portugal (group B); Spain, Italy, Ireland and Croatia (group C); Ukraine, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom (group D). Many of world football champions will be playing. For almost a month, video-cameras will focus on the outstanding performances of the stars, from Cristiano Ronaldo to Xavi Hernandez, from Frank Ribery to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, from Mario Balotelli to Lukas Podolski. But as always happens in events of this calibre, sport issues add up to economic, media and social ones, including political issues. If for Poland Euro 2012 appears like a great stage to present the progress made by the country after the fall of the communist regime and almost after a decade since adhesion to the European Union, for Ukraine, seven years after the "Orange revolution", problems of democracy and respect of fundamental rights persist. However, the Ukrainian population has been preparing for this international limelight, that it looks forward to. A question of democracy. The case of ex premier Yulia Tymoshenko (sentenced for power abuse to 7 years imprisonment and currently detained in harsh conditions) has gained world notoriety. Indeed, many EU heads of government and state, along with European Commission and Council presidents, announced they will desert the games played in Ukrainian stadiums unless president Victor Yanucovich grants to opposition leader Tymoshenko a fair trail enabling the country to undertake the path of reforms, full democracy, and European integration. A few days before the opening of Euro 2012, the European Parliament decided to send a delegation to Ukraine to investigate on the judicial proceedings against Timoshenko. The news was released on June 6 by the president of the European Assembly Martin Schulz (DE): "The ex president of the EU Parliament Pat Cox" (Ireland) "and the ex president of Poland Aleksander Kwasniewski will monitor the judicial proceedings and reports" against the ex premier On June 11, while the football championship will be under way, the two envoy will meet prime minister Mykola Azarov in Kiev. They will then visit the family of the detained politician and her lawyers. "I hope their mission will serve as an important step in order to help Ukraine solve problems related to rule of law and independence of the judiciary. I hope it will contribute to the recovery of mutual trust in EU-Ukraine relations".Development opportunities. Various other issues – unrelated to the championship – have been raised. A positive message of friendship, respect and care for others was launched by the Churches in the two hosting countries, which launched a set of initiatives providing spiritual support and reception to athletes and local supporters, as well as to those coming from distant countries. Civil and economic authorities, under the auspices of the EU promoted initiatives for the protection of consumers and tourists, such as unjustified sky-rocketing prices in hotels and public places. Organisers reiterated cries of alarm focusing on the importance of preventing the exploitation of minors and women for prostitution purposes. Illegal betting during the games is another hot issue, while the EU, in agreement with the hosting countries, banned the sale, consumption and use of tobacco in all stadiums. Other proposals regard the cultural and tourist promotion of Poland and Ukraine. Indeed, both in Warsaw and Kiev Euro 2012 is viewed as a unique opportunity for promotion and development.