ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA: Ukraine makes final preparations (06/30/96)

ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA

Ukraine makes final preparations

First Olympians arrive next week

by Roman Woronowycz

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The initial contingent of the approximately 220 Ukrainian athletes who will eventually compete in Ukraine's first Olympic Games begin arriving next week to prepare to take part in 25 Olympic events. Beginning July 19 and for 17 days afterward, Ukrainians everywhere will focus on their feats and failures.

With the world watching, medal hopefuls like Inessa Kravets, Lilia Pidkopayeva, Hryhoriy Mysiutyn and Olena Vitrychenko will vie to take their places in the history of the 100th Olympiad.

An initial group of 130 athletes, coaches and officials of a total Ukrainian delegation that will reach 400 are due in Atlanta on July 6 by charter jet. Already 45 cyclists are in Arizona doing high-altitude training.

Funding question is resolved

Laryssa Barabash Temple, U.S. representative for the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, said the concern that the Olympic team would not be adequately funded has been resolved. "There was a two-week period in early May, when it seemed Parliament was not going to fund the team," she said. But since then Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma has released the needed money.

She said that finances, always a concern, are sufficiently adequate to allow for the athletes already qualified to compete. What has not yet been determined is how many of the supporting players will be able to travel.

Ms. Temple has been one of the central driving forces in helping Ukraine coordinate preparations for its first competitions on the Olympic stage. She took on the responsibility, which is a volunteer position, three years ago at the behest of Minister of Youth and Sports Valeriy Borzov. Last year she was instrumental in recruiting the city of Carrollton, Ga., to help sponsor pre-Olympic training and acclimatization for the Ukrainian athletes, an effort that went off without a hitch.

She has also secured a hospitality center that will allow the NOC of Ukraine to entertain guests and dignitaries. It is a classic Georgian Colonial estate located in the very exclusive Buckhead area of Atlanta, complete with electronic gates. "It was very important for us to do this," she explained. "We felt it was important to show Ukraine in the best possible light. We also wanted to thank those who have supported us in the best way possible."

The estate's use was donated for the duration of the Olympics by Eric (Ihor) Prockow and his spouse, Diana Stadnycze, who are originally from Montreal. Mr. Prockow is CEO of Sun Data Corp. Ms. Stadnycze is president of the local branch of the Ukrainian NationalWomen's League of America.

Right now the NOC hopes to host several parties on the grounds of the Prockow place, including a bash for many of the athletes who will be finishing up their competitions in the first half of the Games. A party is currently planned for July 31, when the athletes will mix with visitors, guests and dignitaries.

Reception for official delegation

Also scheduled is a reception for the official delegation from Ukraine, which currently is to be headed up by Valeriy Pustovoytenko, minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and will include Cabinet ministers and deputies from Parliament.

In addition, Minister Borzov, who heads the NOC of Ukraine and is a member of the International Olympic Committee, will host a party for NOC delegations of other countries and for members of the IOC.

The entertainment and the service for the hospitality center are being provided by the Bowman Group, whose owner, Roman Olenych, also has coordinated ticket sales for Ukraine through his International Sports Corp. The various buffets, receptions and dinners will include entertainment from Ukraine.

Ms. Temple said ticket sales have been brisk in Ukraine, including the sale of most of the 120 sponsorship packages that were offered.

Another event, this one scheduled for Carrollton, where pre-Olympic training occurred, is the annual gathering of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM-A), which was scheduled specifically for the Atlanta area during the Olympics. Close to 150 Ukrainian American and Canadian youth are scheduled to spend July 17 through July 28 camping on the grounds of the local West Georgia College. Ms. Temple called them "our ready-made cheering section."

There will also be a celebration on July 16 in Carrollton, when the Olympic torch passes through the city on the final leg of its journey across the world to Atlanta. "We'll do a little celebration in town around midnight, when the torch is expected through, the athletes will come out." said Ron Young, president of Carroll 96.

The effort in Carroll County that brought the Ukrainian athletes to Carrollton to prepare for Olympic competition and provided them with training facilities and accommodations was funded by $160,000 raised primarily through local corporate contributions. Local officials also gathered $350,000 in loans and grants to rebuild the track at West Georgia College to bring it to Olympic specifications.

The city of Carrollton is winding down its pre-Olympic effort in order to allow the athletes to concentrate fully on their preparations. Mr. Young explained that for the most part their effort is over. "Now the athletes want to focus on their final preparations. So we are not planning anything else major."

He said that during the course of the last year the teams had been meeting with city residents and putting on athletic exhibitions while they were in the city for training. Two more exhibitions, in volleyball and basketball, are still scheduled.

Mr. Young said that his central task now is to coordinate transportation between Carrollton, which is one hour west of Atlanta, and the Olympic Village for the athletes who will arrive on July 6 and a second group scheduled for July 31.

Ukraine to have consular presence at Atlanta Games

by Roman Woronowycz

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Ukraine will have an official presence in Atlanta during the Olympic Games. The State Deptartment has asked that Ukraine open up a temporary consulate with full consular services for the course of the competitions.

State Department spokesperson Ann Johnson said that all foreign embassies are being asked to set up offices with a consular officer and a political officer on hand. The smaller countries are merely being asked to dedicate an official to Olympic matters in their Washington embassies.

Chief of the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine Heorhiy Ilchenko said that a full consular representation will be in Atlanta for the duration of the Games.

He explained that details will be worked out when the assistant director of consular sections of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mykola Kyrychenko, arrives in the U.S. in two weeks.

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