Olexandr Shevchenko about Ukrainian Soccer

Lecture by Oleksandr Shevchenko:

SPORT AND NATIONAL IDENTITY: UKRAINIAN SOCCER AS A NATION-DEFINING SPORT

TO THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE-RUSSIA GAME

Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 2pm
Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre (Oseredok)
184 Alexander Ave. East, Winnipeg

Olexandr Shevchenko is a free-lance interpreter and translator and a lecturer in History at the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies at the University of Manitoba. After studying in Ukraine, Hungary, US and Canada he settled in Winnipeg since 2006. He is a passionate supporter of Ukrainian soccer.

Question of identity is not easy one to answer, with virtually any possible definition being open to questioning. At the same time, people who may disagree on many other issues become "nationals" when they cheer for their home team. This presentation explores case of Ukrainian soccer as a nation-defining sport on the example of two phenomena: Dynamo Kyiv during the 1960-1990s and Ukrainian national team after 1991.