Canada Cup representatives are hoping the public will help them bring Team Ukraine to Softball City in Surrey this July.

The board of directors of the international womenB次元官网网址檚 softball championship has accepted the Ukrainian team and, in light of the circumstances, has established a fundraising campaign in collaboration with the BC Amateur Sport Fund to support their efforts to play in the July 7-16 event in South Surrey.

B次元官网网址淭hey applied for a late entry, which was instantly granted,B次元官网网址� said Canada Cup media contact Laura Ballance.

B次元官网网址�(Team UkraineB次元官网网址檚 intent) is to provide for their young people some sense of normalcyB次元官网网址� a chance to focus on the Canada Cup, and not the conflict happening at home.B次元官网网址�

The war in Ukraine has placed a tremendous strain on the countryB次元官网网址檚 ability to financially support the participation of their athletes on the world stage, she noted.

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Despite this, the leadership of Ukraine has continued to encourage its athletes and their desire to proudly represent their flag in international competition.

B次元官网网址淓ach year our committee reaches out to the international community to bring world-class teams to our event. When we learned that the U19 junior national team from Ukraine desperately wanted to participate in the Canada Cup, but didnB次元官网网址檛 have the resources to do so, we saw it as our duty to simply do the right thing,B次元官网网址� says event chair Greg Timm.

B次元官网网址淥ur understanding is the team has a great deal of enthusiasm and have a great desire to represent their country B次元官网网址� so we are going to make it happen.B次元官网网址�

The Ukrainian team has tried to its best to stick together throughout the war, but because of the consistent threat of attacks in Kyiv, many of these brave young women have been forced to leave their families behind and flee to the Czech Republic and Poland.

Representing their country at the Canada Cup will also allow the team to fully reunite and get back to the sport they love, Ballance said.

B次元官网网址淣othing unites people like sports and we are thrilled to be coming to Canada to compete in this world-class tournament,B次元官网网址� says Team Ukraine U19 Coach Vasyl Kysil, in a release. B次元官网网址淲e have had to overcome some major obstacles, but we have remained committed to fielding an elite fastpitch team that prides itself in representing our great country.B次元官网网址�

In a video, Kysil explained itB次元官网网址檚 sometimes B次元官网网址渉ard to watch as young women go out onto field of play and bravely compete despite the fact that in many cases their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, brothers and sisters and a lot of friends are on the front lines, fighting for the freedom of our country.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e must continue to provide opportunities for our young people and our athletes to represent the flag of Ukraine. I hope that we get the opportunity to come to Surrey and play and represent our country.B次元官网网址�

Individuals and corporations can financially support Team Ukraine U19B次元官网网址檚 ability to participate in two ways: by donating to a that has been set up, or, to get a tax receipt for the donation, visit .

The Canada Cup will run from July 7-16 at Softball City (2201 148 St., Surrey). The 2023 event will be the largest in the tournament and Canadian history with more than 1,500 elite athletes already confirmed to compete, including the Canadian National team.

For more information about the tournament visit

tricia.weel@peacearchnews.com
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