The 2024 Panamerican Rafting Championships are set to make waves in Pucón, Chile, with an impressive lineup of competitors. This year, 70 teams will compete, including 27 men's teams, 16 women's teams,...
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Yesterday World Rafting Federation received a letter from Mr Oleksandr Bakanychev, the President of Ukrainian Rafting Federation. We kindly ask you to read the words below; we share them knowing that the people concerned, members of our community as you are, may find some support on this platform. Thank you in advance for your time.
"Dear World Rafting,
We kindly ask you to help us collect money for the treatment of the President of Kyiv Rafting Club. His name is Oleg Gordiychuk and he lives in Hostomel, a small town near Kyiv. Oleg is the coach for female sportsmen. He was a good sportsman and a member of the Ukrainian rafting team.
On 20th March 2022 his two legs were shot through in Hostomel. The first shoot hit him in the left knee; the second one into the right femur and damaged the arteria. It was an explosive bullet. After the shooting he and his his wife's son were taken captive.
Mr Oleg Gordiychuk
He stayed 30 days in Russian captivity at a concentration camp. He was left without food and medical drugs. Russians wanted to amputate his left leg. He asked about antibiotics and they did not amputate his leg. On 20th April Oleg was exchanged for Russian captives. Oleg's weight is now 49 kilos and his two legs are in a very bad condition. His wife's son Dima Yuzvak is still missing. Oleg and Dima were divided at the prison. Our entire sports community is looking for Dima Yuzvak who is still imprisoned. We do not know where he is.
We need money for the medical treatment of Oleg: his wounds are infected, and the drains endanger the wounds. This money we are asking for will be used for drugs, bandaging materials, lab and instrumental diagnostics. Medical drugs are very expensive due to the current situation and it is hard to buy them at the moment.
We kindly ask you to help Oleg. Please send this information to people who will be able to help him.
Thank you a lot for understanding
Oleksandr Bakanychev - President of Ukrainian Rafting Federation"
LINK TO SUPPORT
https://www.worldraftingfederation.com/news/430-support-ukrainian-rafters-donate-now
World Rafting Federation, with the collaboration of its stakeholders, has launched a joint fundraising appeal to help our Ukrainian friends and members.
A first donation from World Rafting has been done on 3 march 2022 to Ukrainian Rafting Federation directly to the Ukrainian Rafting Federation. But it’s just the first step.
“I do not know about tomorrow but your support will help us to buy food and water. Sometimes it is not possible to reply at once due to absent of light and internet” said the President Bakanychev.
Your help is invaluable to our friends in Ukraine.
"We condemn war in all its forms and aim to support the Ukrainian rafting community in any way we can; our focus remains the wellbeing of our athletes”, says the Board of Directors “Sport has the power to unite the world. We must use our position to send a strong message of peace”.
The WRF Board of Directors unanimously invite to all Affiliated Members to share this initiative.
"We are in touch with both President Oleksandr Bakanychev and General Secretary Tatyana Kulbaka about how we can coordinate aid so that it can directly cover the needs of the rafting family" says the WRF President Barmaz "The situation is critical, we are working with them to guarantee their safety and help them in the best possible way. But we need the support from our amazing community".
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 2nd March 2022 the Board of Directors met to discuss the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government and the government of Belarus, deciding to suspend from competing at any event the Russian and Belarus Federations until further notice. Read more
On April6 the International Sport community celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Established by the United Nations General Assembly and the International Olympic Committee, April6 recognizes the role that sport plays in society and its power to foster dialogue, understanding, social inclusion and peace.
In a world charged with geopolitical tensions, April6 provides the opportunity to highlight sport as a force for peace, and to demonstrate that sport can accelerate social transformation and foster the construction of inclusive and peaceful societies.
Every sport community plays a fundamental role towards social development by transmitting the educational values of sport to athletes of all ages and levels, and this often leads to meaningful stories of individuals and communities who use sport as an answer to social issues.
Athletes shaking hands in Ivrea - World Rafting Champs Italy 2018
Last year World Rafting first joined the initiative and 5 athletes shared their different and unique stories raising the White Card, a powerful symbol, followed by all the athletes who took part at the 2021 World Champs in France, spreading awareness all around the world. As a reference to the yellow and the red card in the sporting world, the #WhiteCard invites not to punish but to promote peace. WRF has been awarded the winner of the 2021 April6 Initiative of the year by Peace and Sport.
#WhiteCard at the World Rafting Champs - France 2021
Through the #WhiteCard 2022 digital campaign, Peace and Sport wishes to reaffirm that sport is a great tool for creating and maintaining links beyond all differences and that it contributes to a more united world.
This year, the mobilization was launched with a statement for peace following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and it staged the response of the sporting world.
Until April 12, the Champions for Peace who signed the statement, but also athletes from all over the world as well as civil society organizations and political figures, will brandish their WhiteCard, this symbol of peace.
4 rafters from 4 different countries paddling together #WRFamily
President and Founder of Peace and Sport Joël Bouzou,said:
“At a time when risks of division await us, I invite sports and peace actors, political leaders and representatives of the private sector, to raise their #WhiteCard as a sign of support to all peace efforts. More than ever, it is necessary to recall the contribution of sport to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and in post-conflict processes. »
World Rafting Federation, with the collaboration of its stakeholders, has launched a joint fundraising appeal to help our Ukrainian friends and members.
A first donation from World Rafting has been done on 3 march 2022 to Ukrainian Rafting Federation directly to the Ukrainian Rafting Federation. But it’s just the first step.
https://www.worldraftingfederation.com/news/430-support-ukrainian-rafters-donate-now