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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SPORTS STARS - UKRAINE
HEADLINE: Polish, Ukrainian Tennis Stars Play to Raise Aid for Ukraine
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 7/27/2022 at 3:20pm
BYLINE: Myroslava Gongadze
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Krakow, Poland
VIDEOGRAPHER: Bogdan Osyka
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, sv
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:27
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[More than five months after Russia began its attack on Ukraine, there is concern the world’s attention on the war is fading. To help, Ukrainian tennis stars joined their Polish counterparts to raise awareness and funds for Ukraine. VOA’s Myroslava Gongadze reports from Krakow, Poland.]]
((NARRATOR))
Spectators and television viewers watched big name Polish and Ukrainian players battle it out at Krakow’s Tauron Arena in an exhibition match to benefit Ukraine.
Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek – ranked number one in the world – organized the July 23 event to raise money for young Ukrainians affected by the war.
Ukraine’s top tennis player, Elina Svitolina - who is pregnant - judged the match.
((Elina Svitolina, Ukrainian Tennis Player (female in English, VOA))
"I feel like very few people and very few countries really understand the horrible war that is happening in Ukraine. For us, it is very important, this kind of event where we can speak to the people, that we can join and unite all together to help people who are in need. Hopefully one day we can celebrate the win of Ukraine."
((NARRATOR))
Sergiy Stakhovsky is a former professional tennis player from Ukraine who retired this year to join the army after the Russian invasion.
He expressed concern that the world's attention on the war is fading.
((Sergiy Stakhovsky, Former Professional Tennis Player (MALE in English))
"We are trying to raise awareness; we are trying to build something, to continue to talk about the war. Because the war is still on, on full scale and the intensity is quite high. We need any support we can get."
((NARRATOR))
Former professional soccer player and head coach of the Ukrainian national team, Andriy Shevchenko, appeared as a special guest.
He is an ambassador for “United24,” Ukraine’s official global initiative to help restore and develop the country.
((Andriy Shevchenko, United24 Ambassador (MALE IN English, VOA))
"It is my duty; I want to help my country. I think we have to keep the awareness of what is going on, exactly, speak loud, talk the truth to the people about this war, about Russian aggression."
Shevchenko said even though the world has responded to the war in Ukraine, more help is needed.
Yaroslava Gres is a coordinator for United24.
((Yaroslava Gres, United24 Coordinator (FIMAIL, IN ENGLISH, VOA)
"It is not so easy to ask people again and again to donate, so this is a new way of fundraising."
((NARRATOR))
Tennis lovers, indeed, packed the arena and the event raised more than half a million dollars for Ukraine.
((Myroslava Gongadze, VOA news, Krakow, Poland))
NewsML Media TopicsConflict, War and Peace, Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJuly 27, 2022 15:15 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
