June 22nd 2024.
The Czech Republic opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a tough loss. Despite taking an early lead against Portugal, they ultimately fell 2-1 in the final moments of the match. On the other hand, Turkey had a thrilling start to their tournament, securing a 3-1 victory over Georgia in a dramatic showdown in Dortmund. Many are calling it the game of the tournament so far.
However, amidst the excitement of the matches, some viewers back home may have been puzzled by the names being used for the two nations. While they are commonly known as Czech Republic and Turkey, they have been referred to as Czechia and Turkiye respectively at Euro 2024. This has left some wondering why the sudden change.
The Czech Republic officially changed its name to Czechia in 2016. The government wanted to avoid confusion when the name is translated into other languages, believing Czechia to be a more standardized and recognizable name. They have requested that it be used in all contexts, including sports, literature, and media, with Czech Republic reserved for official purposes only. This change was made after the country split from Czechoslovakia in 1992.
Similarly, Turkey made the decision to change its name to Turkiye in 2021. The government's goal was to strengthen the connection between the country's international name and the Turkish language, as well as to improve Turkish national identity. They also hoped that this change would help break the association between the country and the bird species also known as "turkeys." As a result, the name Turkiye is now used across all sports, arts, and international politics.
Despite their name changes, both Czechia and Turkiye have had mixed starts to their Euro 2024 campaigns. The Czech Republic will need to work hard to make a comeback in Group F, while Turkey has shown strength and determination in their opening matches. Only time will tell how these name changes will impact the countries' performances in the tournament.
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