Tribuna.com together with the volunteer organization Ukraine Alive 2022 and the Belarusian Foundation for Sports Solidarity announce a series of World Sports For Ukraine auctions on eBay. The lots will include unique items donated by international and Ukrainian sports stars. The bidding has already begun and will last until April 6. Here are the lots.
Yarmolenko is a West Ham forward and the captain of the Ukraine national team. Although he now plays in peaceful England, all his thoughts are in his native Chernihiv.
"All my relatives are from Chernihiv and the Chernihiv region. There is constant shelling there. People try to hide in bomb shelters and basements. They have no water and no light. Russian troops are committing a real genocide - they are destroying the Ukrainian people. Shooting civilians, children, women."
This shirt is very precious to Rebrov's family -- Sergey wore it in the FA Cup Final with Tottenham. Symbolically, this game took place on February 24, 2002, the exact day the war started in Ukraine but 20 years earlier.
Lewandowski is one of the biggest sports heavyweights to back Ukraine. The Bayern Munich and Polish national team superstar striker took part in a charity friendly game against Scotland a few days ago. His lot is a Stop War jersey from that match.
Viktor Kovalenko plays in Serie A for Spezia and the Ukraine national team. His hometown of Kherson is packed with Russian occupiers. Kovalenko wrote "Stop War" on his real jersey from a Serie A game.
He said: "My hometown Kherson is occupied by Russian troops. Every day I try to be in touch with my family, but it's hard to call it communication. One of my conversations with my brother lasted only 20 seconds. The Russians are jamming our signal, cutting the internet and showing only Russian news on TV.
“They are afraid of the truth, because they know that no one in Kherson was waiting for them. We lived in the wonderful city of Kherson - peaceful and friendly. Our president and our army do not forget our own. We will take our city back. Ukraine over everything and Kherson is Ukraine."
Elena Ovchinnikova is the 14-times champion of the world in MMA, Thai boxing, kickboxing (K-1). She's also won multiple competitions in Ukraine and Europe.
Her lot is a T-shirt with a unique print – unique because there are only two such shirts in the world. Elena hopes that all the proceeds from the sale will help Ukraine win.
Goruna is one of the world's most famous karate fighters who's currently serving in the Ukrainian army.
He said: "The Olympics medal is the most valuable in my collection of more than 200 medals I have won in my 19-year career. It symbolises every victory I have won on my way to the Olympics."
"I want to auction it off and support my people in these difficult times. There is nothing more important than Ukraine right now."
The starting price of his lot is $10,000.
Sikan won the World Yout Championship in 2019 and it was a big deal for Ukraine. For the first time, Ukraine had won a tournament of this magnitude. Sikan was the top scorer of his team with four goals.
The starting price of his lot is $7,500. Upon putting his medal up for auction, he said: "The enemy is destroying my hometown of Zhytomyr. On one of the first days they shelled the maternity ward. The next day they destroyed a school. The Russians are doing everything to destroy our children, our future."
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