Thousands raised at NYC meeting with Valeriy Borzov (02/11/96)

Thousands raised at NYC meeting with Valeriy Borzov

by Yarema A. Bachynsky

NEW YORK - Even though their numbers were small, the 100 or so people present at the Ukrainian National Home on Sunday, February 4, made up in dollars what the biting cold took away in attendance. Close to $60,000 was raised to support Ukraine's athletes at the upcoming Atlanta Summer Olympics at a community meeting with Minister of Youth and Sports Valeriy Borzov.

Mr. Borzov was accompanied by Laryssa Barabash-Temple, official representative of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC) in the U.S.

Appointed by Ukraine's first president, Leonid Kravchuk, Mr. Borzov is perhaps best known in the athletic world for his sprinting prowess. A gold medalist in the 100- and 200-meter dash at the 1972 Munich Olympics, he caused quite a stir in correcting a reporter by stating that he was a Ukrainian, not a Russian, athlete. Once "The Fastest Man in the World," he is now carrying the torch for Ukraine's underfunded national athletic program.

Winding up a three-city fund-raising tour, Mr. Borzov focused his address on Ukraine's development of an independent Olympic program, with all its symbolic meaning, achievements and difficulties. Recalling President Bill Clinton's White House reception of figure skating sensations Oksana Baiul and Viktor Petrenko, Mr. Borzov underlined the positive role that athletic achievement plays in building Ukraine's international reputation.

Turning to 1996, Mr. Borzov said Ukraine would field close to 200 athletes at Atlanta, a significant number of whom had already undergone acclimatization there in 1995. He mentioned gymnast Lilya Pidkopayeva and rhythmic gymnast Kateryna Serebrianska as potential powerhouses at the Centennial Olympic Games.

In apprising those gathered of the NOC's work in the United States, Ms. Barabash-Temple highlighted the generosity of the city of Carrollton, Ga., which is Team Ukraine's host for the Games. The city is picking up a $400,000 tab for Ukraine's Olympians and has, among other things, constructed world-class athletic facilities at West Georgia College, where many of the athletes have already trained. Ms. Barabash-Temple also thanked the 35 Ukrainian Americans and Canadians who served as interpreters for the team during summer and fall1 995 and their coordinator from the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM-A), Lydia Mykytyn.

Ms. Barabash-Temple also mentioned that Ukraine would maintain a hospitality center, courtesy of a local benefactor, to host official delegations during the Games.

Following a question and answer session, the meeting culminated with the announcement of donations, large and small, to Ukraine's Olympic endeavor. In addition to numerous individuals, organizations contributing were the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the United States and Canada (USCAK), Self-Reliance Federal Credit Union of New York, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian Sport Club of New York, the Ukrainian Orthodox Credit Union and the Ukrainian National Home.

To date, USCAK has donated over $150,000 to Ukraine's athletic programs, most recently a $40,000 outlay for purchase of uniforms and equipment for Ukrainian gymnastic teams.

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