The Olena Zelenska Foundation restored the central stadium in Hostomel, which was damaged during the occupation in 2022.
To restore the stadium, the Foundation attracted foreign partners: the donors were the Bayern Munich football club and the Bavarian Industrial Association, with the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in Germany. The stadium was equipped with two new mini-pitches, outdoor lighting, an electronic scoreboard and a roof, and the locker rooms and coaching room were renovated.
On the eve of the Day of the Hero City of Gostomel, Olena Zelenska and the Foundation's team visited the restored Gostomel Central Stadium. At the invitation of the First Lady, Dynamo Kyiv players joined the event and made an unexpected surprise for the children. In particular, the event was attended by Volodymyr Brazhko, Denys Popov and Christian Bilovar.
The players of the White and Blues' first team did not come empty-handed, but with gifts for the local young footballers - T-shirts and balls. The Dynamo players also talked to the children and gave them advice on how to go from children's to professional football.
As of the beginning of 2022, 6 children's teams (120 people) from Gostomel and neighboring communities were training at the stadium. Today, volunteers regularly organize charity football matches. The IDP team Mriya, the first Ukrainian football team from among internally displaced persons to play in the top league of the Kyiv Oblast Championship, is also currently training at the Gostomel stadium.
Thus, the renovated stadium in Gostomel will become a sports center for many football teams and football fans, as well as a place for the development of other sports and events not only in Gostomel but also in neighboring communities. In addition, the city's central stadium has often hosted concerts, cultural and entertainment events, so it is also a meeting place for all residents of the city.
"Today, more than 6,200 children, including IDPs, live in the de-occupied city. Therefore, it was extremely important for our team to create a space for their development. I am glad that we managed to repair this stadium. I hope it will become a place for new teams and future football stars!" said Olena Zelenska.
During the renovation, a mural was also painted on the stand. This is the work of Ukrainian artists - brothers Serhiy and Vitaliy Hrekhiv (Feros & Dilkone).
"We wanted to fill the lives of Gostomel children with bright colors. But it also had to be modern and colorful. That's why we wanted to involve really creative artists who create such art for young people," added Nina Gorbacheva, director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
Some of the elements of the mural are drawings by players of the Phoenix children's football team. During their visit to Gostomel, the Dynamo players joined in the creation of the mural, leaving their autographs on the wall in the form of graffiti. Future football players took a photo with the Dynamo players and got their autographs.
"It is very nice to see many children training at this stadium, which was destroyed by Russian barbarians. It makes my heart warm to see this. When we see these happy eyes, it energizes us to win. Now the children have a beautiful stadium again where they can do their favorite thing," shared his impressions of the event Christian Bilovar.