At the Skif Stadium in Lviv, a new artificial-turf pitch was opened and a memorial five-a-side football tournament dedicated to Captain Ivan Tereshko was held. The event was organised by the Ivan Boberskyi Lviv State University of Physical Culture together with the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration.
The event took place on 29 May at the Skif Stadium of the University of Physical Culture. The tournament was dedicated to serviceman of the 80th Separate Air Assault Halychyna Brigade, Captain Ivan Tereshko, who had been defending Ukraine since 2014, fought in the defence of Luhansk Airport, and after the start of the full-scale invasion carried out missions in the southern and eastern sectors. The soldier was killed on 25 May 2022 in Donetsk region.
At the tournament were the captain’s wife, Larysa Tereshko, a combat medic of the 80th Brigade, and their daughter, Daryna. It was Larysa Tereshko who took the first symbolic kick of the ball on the new pitch.
The new artificial-turf pitch has become part of the development of the university’s sports infrastructure. It was built within the framework of the Comprehensive Programme for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport in Lviv Region. According to the Director of the Department of Sport, Youth and Tourism of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Roman Khimyak, high-quality infrastructure is an essential condition for the development of school and university sport, and holding a tournament in honour of a Ukrainian soldier underlines that it is thanks to the defenders that there is an opportunity to train and compete.
More than UAH 5.2 million from the regional budget was allocated for the construction of the new pitch. Previously, over UAH 6.2 million had been invested at the same facility in running tracks and other sports grounds. In total, around UAH 12 million has been invested in the development of the sports facilities at Skif Stadium.
After the official opening, the third-place play-off and the tournament final were held. Victory went to the team of the Ivan Boberskyi University of Physical Culture, second place was taken by cadets of the National Army Academy, and the bronze medals went to the National Guard of Ukraine team.