Sports

Ukraine tied with U.S.A. for third place in the Paralympic Games

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ukraine is currently tied with the United States for third place in the medals standings with 83 medals – 32 gold, 24 silver and 27 bronze – at the Paralympic Games in Rio that run September 7-18.  As of press time (September 15), China leads the medals count with 172, followed by Great Britain at 101 medals. Ukraine’s swimmers collected the bulk of the medals for Ukraine – a total of 49 (19 gold, 15 silver and 15 bronze). Denys Dubrov (S10) won six medals (three gold, one silver and two bronze):  gold in the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay (3:48.11 seconds), and gold in the men’s 200-meter individual medley (2:0687 seconds, a world record), silver in the men’s 100-meter breaststroke 1:05.10 seconds), and bronze medals in the men’s 50-meter freestyle (S10) (23.75 seconds) and in the men’s 100-meter backstroke (S10) (59.37 seconds). Maksym Krypak (S10) won five medals (three gold and two silver medals): gold in the 50-meter freestyle (23.33 seconds), 100-meter freestyle 51.08 seconds) and 100-meter backstroke (57.24, world record), and silver in the 100-meter butterfly (54.90 seconds) and in the 200-meter individual medley (2:08.10 seconds). Ievgenii Bogodaiko (S7) won five medals (two gold, two silver and one bronze): gold in the men’s 100-meter backstroke (1:05.55 seconds) and the men’s 200-meter individual medley (2:30.72 seconds, world record), silver in the men’s 50-meter freestyle (27.64 seconds) and 50-meter butterfly (29.35 seconds), and bronze in the mixed 4×50-meter freestyle relay (2:30.66 seconds).

Sports

Ukraine wins 11 medals at Rio, finishes in 22nd place in medals count

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The United States led the way with 121 medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics. China (70), Great Britain (67) and Russia (56) rounded out the top four. Next were Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Italy. Ukraine ranked 22nd out of 207 participating nations, finishing amid countries like Poland, Jamaica, Cuba and Uzbekistan. This year’s total of 11 medals (two gold, five silver and four bronze) is down from 2012’s haul of 18, 2008’s total of 27 medals and 2004’s sum of 22 medals.

Sports

Ukraine suffers second loss at 2016 Euro Cup

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ukraine lost its second match of the 2016 European Championships on June 15 against Northern Ireland 0-2 at Stade de Lyon, in Lyon, France. The Northern Ireland team scored the opener in the 49th minute of play, during the second half, with a header by Gareth McAuley off a cross by Oliver Norwood. In extra time (90 + 6 minutes), Niall McGinn scored another goal for Northern Ireland. Ukraine, in Group C, is in fourth place, behind Germany, Poland and Northern Ireland. Ukraine plays against Poland on June 21 at Stade Velodrom in Marseille.

Sports

Sportsline

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Soccer

• In the UEFA Women’s Euro, Ukraine opened the scoring against Greece on June 7 in the second minute of play by team captain Daryna Apanashchenko with a penalty kick. Olha Boychenko netted another goal in the 44th minute for Ukraine. Ukraine is in second place (13 points) in Group 3, with France in the lead with 21 points, Romania (10 points) and Albania (zero points). Greece is in fourth place with six points. Ukraine’s next match is against Romania on September 15.

Sports

Sportsline

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Soccer

• Shakhtar Donetsk was eliminated from the UEFA Europa League after its 3-1 loss against Sevilla on May 5 in the semifinal second-leg match. Shakhtar tied 2-2 with Sevilla in the first-leg semifinal match on April 28 at Arena Lviv. Shakhtar won 3-0 against Braga of Portugal on April 14 in the second-leg match quarterfinal, and Shakhtar won 2-1 against Braga in the first-leg quarterfinal match on April 7 in Portugal. • Oleksandr Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kyiv) were each fined 50,000 hrv after a fight between the two teams following the 24th round of the Ukrainian Premier League Championship. Each player is also suspended for three matches, following a ruling by the Control and Disciplinary Committee of the Football Federation of Ukraine.

Community Chronicle

Benefit luncheon in New Jersey highlights ongoing work of UCU

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WEST ORANGE, N.J. – More than 100 people from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania gathered on May 15 at The Manor Restaurant for an afternoon luncheon benefitting the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. The event featured special guest speakers Prof. Yaroslav Hrytsak and Dr. Boris Lushniak, and was sponsored by the New Jersey Friends of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) and the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (UCEF). The Rev. Stepan Bilyk of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, N.J., led the gathering in an opening prayer, and community activist Ihor Zwarycz served as master of ceremonies. Alex Kuzma, chief development officer of UCEF, in his statement of greeting underscored that that UCU is a “pioneering institution” that has the potential to “transform Ukrainian society.” Mr. Kuzma recognized the major donation of $100,000 by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America toward the UCU Rehabilitation Center.

US

Ukrainian American walks across U.S. to raise awareness for Ukraine

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. – With more than 250 miles behind her in her “Walk for Ukraine” cross-country trek across the United States, Maya (who requested that we keep her last name private) is raising awareness about the situation in Ukraine. She began her walk on November 21 at Front Royal, Va., and at her latest update on April 4, she had departed from Kingsport, Tenn. In speaking with The Ukrainian Weekly, Maya explained that the motivations for such an endeavor came from her own life experiences, including a previous long walk of 500 miles in Spain, which she described as “an incredible experience.” She also spent seven months living in Ukraine, and this walk, she said, was an active way for her to support Ukraine and to raise awareness among the U.S. population. Maya plans to take a break from her walk beginning in mid-May to attend to family and personal matters, but is scheduled to resume after Labor Day.  From her website (http://mayawalks.wix.com/ukraine), Maya explains her plan for the walk:

“I will walk up to five hours per day during the week (average 12 miles per day), and hopefully cover more distance during weekends. I’ll try to get in one rest day a week, too.

Notes on People

Ukrainian couple featured on Today show’s Valentine’s Day segment

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PARSIPPANY, N.J. – As part of the “Today” show’s special series “A Little Romance” and as part of Valentine’s Day, Walter and Maria Uzdejczyk of Yonkers, N.Y., were among six couples invited to share their “secrets” to being married for more than 50 years while on the television program on February 11. Interviewed by Hoda Kotb, couples were asked how they met, how they came to get married and how they remain in love for more than half a century. In its “Sweetheart Party,” couples were filmed for Hoda Kotb’s “Little Romance” music video featuring singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson. The Knot magazine assisted in funding the video. (Video can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXX22XJyL50 and http://www.today.com/health/valentine-s-day-hoda-kotb-ingrid-michaelson-unveil-little-romance-t72951).

Community Chronicle

“Freedom or Death” screens at “Heavenly Brigade” commemoration

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PASSAIC, N.J. – More than 100 people – many dressed in embroidered Ukrainian “vyshyvanky” – came on February 4 to the Ukrainian Center in Passaic, N.J., for a commemorative evening to mark the two-year anniversary of the sacrifices made by the Heavenly Brigade during the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine. The program was opened in Ukrainian by Ivana Lotoshynski, who gave a brief description of the film, “Volya abo Smert” (“Freedom or Death”) by Damian Kolodiy and film editor Sean Murphy. Following the screening, Mr. Kolodiy responded to many of the questions and comments from the audience. Many expressed hope, that with much financial support, that the film will reach a larger audience. In late 2013, Mr. Kolodiy went to Ukraine to film the growing protests, then left for the U.S. to seek more funds to continue filming as well as to urge that supplies needed to be sent to Maidan activists.

Community Chronicle

Ukrainian American leaders greet Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko

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NEW YORK – Dozens of Ukrainian American community representatives gathered on February 5 at Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York for a brief luncheon reception hosted by Ukraine’s new ambassador to the U.N., Volodymyr Yelchenko, and his wife, Iryna. Ambassador Yelchenko, 56, thanked the Ukrainian American community for its work for Ukraine and its work for Ukraine’s democratic evolution, and he urged the community to continue to do this work. Ukraine’s role as a U.N. Security Council member for 2016-2017 will face challenges, Mr. Yelchenko added, noting the competition for attention between the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. The ambassador also called on the Ukrainian community to score his performance and said he is open to suggestions. He underscored that the community should continue to speak out against backsliding on reforms in Ukraine and thanked the informal gathering for its support as he assumes the role of ambassador to the U.N.  Among the community organizations represented at the reception was the Ukrainan National Association.