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When the two U.S. football teams take the field Sunday for the Superbowl, members of the Ukrainian League American football will be on the field of battle. Olena Adamenko has the story, narrated by Anna Rice
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Ukraine US Football – Adamenko
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Athletes on the Frontlines Send Message to US Ahead of Superbowl
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 02/10/2023 at 3:55pm
BYLINE: Olena Adamenko
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Sumy Region, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mykhailo Zaika
VIDEO EDITOR: Mykhailo Zaika
SCRIPT EDITORS: KEnochs; MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Story Hunter
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:57
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[When the two U.S. football teams take the field Sunday for the Superbowl, members of the Ukrainian League American football will be on the field of battle. Olena Adamenko has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
((Mandatory courtesy: Uzhgorod Lumberjacks))
((NATS)) ((Fun video with football Ukrainian athletes filmed at frontlines))
((NARRATION))
This video dedicated to the Superbowl 2023 was made by members of the Uzhhorod Lumberjacks Ukrainian League American football team
((End courtesy))
that is currently on the frontlines defending their country.
((Fedir Shandor, Uzhhorod Lumberjacks American Football Team)) ((UKR))
“Behind us is the Russian-Ukrianian border. And this way, we wanted to thank the American people for their support, for helping us!”
((NARRATION))
Before the war, Fedir Shandor was president of the American Football Federation of Zakarpattia Oblast. These days however, he is a member of Ukraine Armed Forces and serves on the north-eastern border of Ukraine.
((Fedir Shandor, Uzhhorod Lumberjacks American Football Team)) ((RUS))
“Ex-governor of New York came here – he’s of Hungarian descent I think – and gave us a few dozen footballs as a gift. He came of course to bring some humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but since he’s an American football fan, he brought us gifts as well.”
((NARRATION))
Shandor has been playing American football for some 15 years. He says he chose this sport because of his size.
((Fedir Shandor, Uzhhorod Lumberjacks American Football Team)) ((RUS))
“I’m somewhat heavyset, but that’s the beauty of American football – anyone can play really. No matter if you’re slim or on the heavier side, tall or short, anyone plays. It’s a rare sport where this is the case!”
((NARRATION))
The team Shandor plays for – Uzhgorod Lumberjacks – are three-time champions of Ukraine’s American Football League; however, right now, over half
((Mandatory courtesy: Uzhgorod Lumberjacks + Facebook Logo))
of the team are on the frontlines.
((End courtesy))
((Fedir Shandor, Uzhhorod Lumberjacks American Football Team)) ((RUS)) АЛЕСЬ
“American football teams usually consist of some 50-60 people; we have 24. Fifteen team members are on the frontlines, and we have lost one of our team members sadly. Danylo Bohuslavskiy died…”
((NARRATION))
Danylo Bohuslavskiy died in October 2022 while fighting in the Kherson region; he was 32. His brother
((Mandatory courtesy: ))
Roman Bohuslavskiy – also a soldier and an American football player
((Mandatory courtesy: Uzhgorod Lumberjacks + Facebook Logo))
– received an
invitation to Superbowl 2023.
All the Uzhgorod Lumberjacks team members plan to watch the
((End courtesy))
Superbowl final. Some – like team member Vitaliy Melnyk – will do it from the frontlines in the Kharkiv region.
((Vitaliy Melnyk, Uzhhorod Lumberjacks American football team)) ((UKR)) ((Telegram))
“We’re all anticipating the game on Sunday! It’s sacred for me – I think this Sunday in February will always be something I look forward to – and nothing, not even the war, will stop me!”
((Reporter)) “Who are you rooting for?”
((Melnyk)) “Kansas!”
((NARRATION))
Shandor says he’ll also be rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs over the Philadelphia Eagles – because Kansas City, Missouri is where he got to see American football played for the first time years ago.
((For Olena Adamenko in Sumy Region, Ukraine, Anna Rice, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 10, 2023 17:16 EST
Byline Olena Adamenko
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
