August 31 2005
Boxing champion Klitschko attends foundation stone ceremony in Brovary
31/08/2005 - Boxing champion Vitali Klitschko was among the many guests attending the foundation stone laying ceremony for the first SOS Children's Village in Ukraine last week. This children's village in Brovary, some 20 kilometres from the capital Kiev, forms part of the 6 villages for 2006 charity campaign.
At the ceremony, Klitschko, a WBC heavyweight boxing world champion, said he and "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages" ambassador Andriy Shevchenko would give their full support to the new facility in Brovary. Shevchenko, European Footballer of the Year 2004 and top AC Milan striker, was unable to attend the ceremony in Brovary.
"Unfortunately Andriy Shevchenko couldn't come today," Klitschko told the 100 plus guests at the ceremony in a speech. "I promise that we will give our maximum support to the SOS Children's Village in Brovary. I believe our future depends on the children."
"I am especially happy that the village will be built here - it's not very far from the place where I started my sporting career with my brother," Klitschko said, adding that everyone must do everything possible to help children in need.
Among the many guests attending the ceremony were also the Ukrainian Minister of Youth and Sport, the Mayor of Brovary, the President of the Ukrainian Football Federation, as well as adults and children from the neighbourhood. But the children were particularly surprised and delighted by Klitschko's visit. The boxing champion was kept busy signing autographs and posing for photographs with the children.
SOS Children's Villages has been engaged in humanitarian work in Ukraine since 2003, operating an HIV/AIDS counselling centre in the Podol district of Kiev, and a programme providing support for families in need.