THE Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association has come to the aid of World Athletics Association Senior Vice President Sergey Bubka, donating an initial $1,000 (roughly P51,000) for the relief of Bubka’s beleaguered Ukranian compatriots after their country was invaded by Russia nearly two weeks ago.
“Both Ukraine and Mr. Sergey Bubka are friends of Philippine Athletics. The Patafa has started an initiative effort by giving $ 1,000, aside from the monetary assistance, the Athletics National Sports Association has just launched an initiative to support refugees, displaced innocent civilians, athletes and kids in the Ukraine,” athletics President Philip Ella Juico said in a statement.
“We are trying as much as we can to channel and reinforce the soft power of our global unity to support people in Ukraine as much as we can in these unprecedented times,” Juico said. “We are inviting everybody to help thousands of women and children that left their homes without taking anything with them.
“The key priorities at this stage will be first aid medical materials, hygiene products, clothes for kids, long-lasting food and financial support.”
The Patafa was responding to the appeal of Bubka, a former Olympic and world pole vault champion and President of the Ukraine National Olympic Committee, who wrote that “My people are in danger. It is a very hard time for me – the time of hard working and the time of decisions on how to help my country, my compatriots, athletes and coaches, my colleagues and friends.”
