TORONTO – The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and its International Sports Committee supported the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams on August 19-25 in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine.
The founder and organizer of this event for the seventh year was the UWC member organization – International Organization of Ukrainian Communities “Fourth Wave” from Canada, and the Championship’s Organizing Committee was chaired by Ihor Bokiy, a member of the UWC International Sports Committee.
During the four days of competition held at stadiums in Irpin and Hostomel, 12 football teams from 11 countries participated: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Israel, Spain, Moldova, the United Arab Emirates, Poland (from Wroclaw and Lublin), United States of America and the Czech Republic. The teams with players from the age of 16 to 60 included both amateurs and former professional soccer players. Symbolically, the final games were held on August 24 – Ukrainian Independence Day. The winner of this year’s championship for diaspora teams was the Ukrainian team from Austria, the second place team – from Poland (Wroclaw) and the third place team – from Moldova.
Participants of the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams.
In the framework of the championship, players took part in a friendly soccer match with team “Irpin ATO,” the planting of sycamore trees on the Avenue of Friendship, raising the state flag of Ukraine, honoring fallen Ukrainian soldiers and in meetings with residents and visitors to Irpin. Mr. Bokiy had productive meetings with the leadership of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Football Federation of Ukraine.
In addition to the UWC, the event was fully supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Football Federation of Ukraine, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, the governing authorities of Irpin and Kyiv Oblast, University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, Kyiv Oblast Football Federation, Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada (USCAK), and charitable institutions and donors from the diaspora and Ukraine.
The Austrian team – winner of the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams.
“I trust that today’s world football championship has further united representatives of Ukrainian diaspora sport in the diaspora, and strengthened the ties between Ukrainians living in Ukraine and abroad,” said Larisa Barabash-Temple, chairman of the UWC International Sports Committee.
Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij acknowledged the International Organization of Ukrainian Communities “Fourth Wave” from Canada and the work by Mr. Bokiy on hosting a successful World Football Championship in Irpin, and sincerely congratulated the many participants of this championship with best wishes for new achievements in sport.
More information on the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams can be found on the websites of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, City Council of Irpin, Football Federation of Ukraine and the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has a network of member organizations and ties with Ukrainians in 53 countries. Founded in 1967, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization with special consultative status.
Football team captains.