Громадська організація "Карпати"

     Recently in Europe the 10th FARE Action Week came to an end. For the 3rd consecutive year NGO “Karpaty” carries out events with respect to extinction of xenophobia, racial differencing within football fans’ community. Unfortunately this year difficult economic situation influenced format and scale of events. For the first time a tournament for nationalities, not countries, took place.
Teams of Ukraine, Europe (Poles, Bulgarians and Byelorussians), Arab Nations (Moroccans, Palestinians, Lebanese, Yemenians) and Africa (Nigerians and Cameroonians) competed for Cup and medals. For the first time in the history of the event in Lviv the main trophy was gained by the Ukrainian team. In the final match against the Arab Nations’ team Ukrainians in dramatic style won 3:2. By the way last year Ukrainians lost to Morocco team on penalties.
     Traditionally football players of local FC “Karpaty” and their opponents FC “Metallurg” Zaporizhzhya (ironically last year at the time of the 9th FARE Action Week “Metallurg” also played against “Karpaty”) before a calendar match of the Ukrainian Premier League demonstrated to all spectators of the “Ukraine” stadium official posters “All colours are beautiful”.
     Players of FC “Karpaty” Samson Godwin and Ihor Khudobyak attended few training sessions of young football players and spoke to youngsters about problems that occur in football with regard to racial or class issues. Fortunately youngsters could hardly understand the meaning of what the footballers talked about. So one can come to a conclusion that in heads of future Shevchenkos and Rebrovs there are no biased opinions regarding skin colours or other personal features of other people.
     Before the mentioned game also a ground graffiti competition took place (although weather conditions were not good) on the same topic “All colours are beautiful”. That’s another comparatively easy and cheap way to draw attention of hundreds of passers-by to the issue.
     Some pictures from FARE Action Week you can find here.