Andri Shevtshenko, one of Ukraine’s biggest sports names, and Sergei Bubka are working to get help for their country. However, Bubka’s silence initially aroused anger, Ilta-Sanomat reported earlier.
When listing the most famous sports heroes in Ukraine, the boxing brothers are sure to be at the top Vitali and Vladimir Klitshkopole vaulter Sergei Bubka and a football player Andri Shevtshenko.
Vladimir Klitshko won the 1996 gold boxing super heavyweight championship in Atlanta and then moved on to the professional races. He dominated the heavyweight title belts with his brother Vital from 2004 to 2015, during the so-called reign of Klitshko.
Klitshkot have been prominent figures since Russia invaded Ukraine. Vitali Klitshko, 50, has been actively involved in politics since his sports career. He is currently the mayor of Kiev and has appeared in the media, among other things, wearing a uniform and threatening the will to fight.
Andri Shevtshenko: “Terrible things are happening there”
The ex-footballer, striker legend Andri Shevtshenko, 45, is still one of the country’s best-known sports names, as he coached the Ukrainian national team at last summer’s European Championships. Shevtshenko, who lives in England, has spoken emotionally about the situation in his country British channel for Sky Sports (switch to another service).
– I am so proud to be a Ukrainian. This is a really difficult moment for my country, its people and my family. My mother and sister are in Kiev, and terrible things are happening there. People are dying, children are dying, rockets are showing our houses, Shevtshenko said last Thursday.
Shevtshenko, who grew up in Kiev, played the first professional years of his career in 1994-99. He then starred in the 1999-2006 attack on AC Milan in Italy, after which he represented Chelsea in the English Premier League in 2006-08. He would still visit Milan for a season before ending his career at the Kiev Dynamo in 2012.
In his career, Shevtshenko won, among other things, the Italian championship and the Champions League. He took the Champions League goal exchange twice.
Shevtshenko was named head coach of the Ukrainian national team in 2016. He led the country at the European Championships last summer for the first time until the semi-finals. In November, he moved to Italy ‘s Serie A, Genoa, which had fallen into a relegation fight but was fired as early as January 2022.
Shevtshenko has remained in England since the Russian invasion began. He has said he is working to get humanitarian aid to his country and to expose the scale of the atrocities his country is experiencing. Shevtshenko said his goal is to make people understand the situation and its human side.
– We must end this war, we must find a way to end the war. We have refugees, we need humanitarian aid. We need medical support, food aid. It feels like I can do a lot here, and I’m going to do it, ”Shevtshenko commented to Sky Sports in London.
Shevtshenko also said he tried to get his family to leave Ukraine, but they did not want to leave their homes.
Shevtshenko said he supported Fifa’s and Uefa’s decisions to exclude Russia from competition because “now it’s not a conflict, it’s a war.” Admittedly, he added that football doesn’t matter to him at the moment.
– Football no longer exists for me. I don’t think so. It’s not the time. I don’t watch any sports now. When I wake up, all my focus is on how I can help my country, what I can do. I call my parents and friends to get updates on events in Ukraine.
On Sunday, Shevtshenko appeared on Italian television.
– I can’t watch what’s happening in my country without crying. We must try to get Russia to stop firing, find a diplomatic solution and get them to end this war, Shevtshenko said According to Daily Mail (you switch to another service) in the Italian Che tempo che fa program.
Shevtshenko also asked the Italians to help the Ukrainians fleeing their country.
– When I arrived in Italy, the country opened its heart to me. You made me feel like I was one of you. Now I ask you: open your hearts to my people, we need your help. Make them feel like you made me feel. Everyone has already shown a lot of compassion, I know, but I ask for more, Shevtshenko tears.
Sergei Bubka’s actions caused outrage – he is now coordinating the sports movement’s help to his country
Athletics legend Sergei Bubka stretched the first pole vault in history in 1985 to more than six meters. He won World Championship gold six times in a row since the Helsinki World Championships in 1983. Bubka won Olympic gold in Seoul in 1988.
Bubka in particular has been active in politics and sports politics since his career. He is the Chairman of the Olympic Committee of Ukraine and a member of the Board of the Ukrainian Parliament, the International Olympic Committee and the International Federation of Athletics.
Bubka’s actions, or rather inaction, since the launch of the Russian invasion have not been in the minds of all Ukrainians. About it told Ilta-Sanomat (moving to another service) multiple jump medalist Bohdan Bondarenko.
– It is extremely sad that such an influential and world-famous Ukrainian has not said anything during the whole war. It has been a huge disappointment in Ukraine, Bondarenko criticized Ilta-Sanomat.
– He should understand that now we are fighting for independence and human life. Now is not the time to do business, Bondarenko continued, as Bubka’s silence was suspected, for example, in his business in Russia.
Since then, Bubkak has opened his verbal coffin.
– Dear Ukrainians, the Olympic family and everyone who cares about our pain. Like all other Ukrainians, I cannot sleep. I will defend our country by all possible means, taking advantage of all my international contacts, Bubka tweeted on March 4th.
– I love Ukraine with all my heart. Under that banner, I won my greatest achievements. That flag is now flying in the humanitarian aid center that my family is working with. We will win! Bubka wrote on Twitter (switching to another service) later that day.
On Monday, the news agency AFP reported that Bubka had appealed to the sports community to get help for its people.
– More than a million people, mostly women and children, have had to leave their homes. Millions of people are losing their livelihoods and are left without medical care, food and clothing in the regions of Ukraine, Bubka said.
Bubka called on the sports world to help those fleeing their homes who had to leave everything behind.
– At this stage, the main priorities are first aid and medical supplies, hygiene products, children’s clothing, food and financial support. Secondly, I am considering the possibility of organizing sportswear, sports shoes, equipment of any kind for children who now live in refugee camps.
Writing about Olympic sports Insidethegames reports (you switch to another service) weekend that the chairman of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach has asked Bubka to coordinate humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Solidarity Fund was set up by the International Olympic Committee at the end of February.
– Mr Bubka will lead the allocation and distribution of Solidarity Fund resources to the Ukrainian Olympic Committee and the sports movement, Bach said.