Sports Clubs In Bulgaria And Bosnia Unite To Help Ukrainian Athletes Forced To Take Refuge Due To The Russian Invasion

Illustration of solidarity action for Ukraine. (Photo: Pexels/Mathias PR Reding )

JAKARTA - Russia's invasion of Ukraine had a major impact on all sectors, including sports. Ukrainian athletes reportedly had to flee to save themselves.

This has invited a number of federations and sports clubs in several countries to show solidarity actions.

More recently, sports clubs in Bosnia Herzegovina, as well as Bulgaria, offered shelter, training, and competition to Ukrainian athletes fleeing the war. This is a manifestation of the two countries in showing global solidarity for Ukraine.

"When the girls asked us why we helped them, we said we were children of war ourselves, running away with our mothers while others helped us," said Anita Glibic, director of the Student Volleyball Club (SOK) in the city of Mostar.

The SOK accommodates seven players from Ukrainian club Balta. Four other athletes are expected to attend an open invitation from Bosnia for Ukrainian women's volleyball.

The club provides accommodation, meals, and training for athletes from Ukraine.

"We traveled for four days... the longest stay at the border. It was very difficult," said Varvara Koltsova, who arrived with her three-year-old son.

Another Ukrainian athlete, Olha Kachur said, finally they feel safe without war and bombs.

"I don't think at the moment anyone who has fled Ukraine has any plans of what to do ... Of course, we want to go home to our families, our friends, but at the moment we don't know when the war will end," Kachur said.

"I feel a bit guilty because I am safe and they (other Ukrainians) are not," she continued.

In Bulgaria, Mihail Minchev, who owns and coaches the Hispano tennis club near the city of Varna, was among those who responded to calls by the Bulgarian tennis federation to help Ukrainians after the Russian invasion.

"I had to do something," said Minchev, who is willing to accommodate two families of three teenage tennis players from the Ukrainian city of Odesa.

"I can no longer just be an indifferent spectator watching what happens on TV as if it were a reality show," he concluded.