Favbet Foundation and Andrij Matiukha launched special training sessions for athletes to learn how to save lives
Photo: FAST
Poltava became the site of serious training. A first aid course under the Complex program was held there, organized with the support of Favbet Foundation together with “FAST First Aid and Special Training.”
Thirty-three representatives of sports clubs and schools from the Poltava region took part. Among them were students and coaches from the Regional Sports Training Center, Youth Sports School named after O. Butovsky, ZOG Youth Sports School “Kolos,” the National Deaflympic Team of Ukraine, the regional Spartak Sports Society, and FC Vorskla. For most participants, this was their first time attending such an event, making the experience especially valuable.
Photo: FAST
During the training, theory was immediately reinforced with practice. Athletes practiced actions in cases of respiratory arrest, critical bleeding, and loss of consciousness. It is precisely in the first minutes of a critical situation that it becomes clear whether a life can be saved at all. Participants felt these circumstances themselves while practicing algorithms in simulated events.
Now in Poltava there are specialists capable of acting at critical moments, with an awareness that sports and safety must go hand in hand. This idea is actively promoted by Favbet Foundation together with the foundation’s president, Andrij Matiukha.
Photo: FAST
“The ability to save a life must be a basic skill for a coach or athlete. We are firmly convinced of this, which is why we support such training in different cities. Poltava is another step, and there will be even more to come,” the foundation stated.
The initiative supported by Favbet Foundation travels across Ukrainian cities
In Rivne, classes were held at the regional branch of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. About twenty participants, including coaches from “Invasport,” representatives of the regional Department of Youth and Sports, the School of Higher Sports Mastery, and “Sports for All,” learned to act in emergency situations and practiced their skills.
In Vinnytsia, the training brought together 28 athletes and coaches of the national shooting team. Various emergency scenarios were recreated for them so that everyone could experience what it means to make decisions under pressure and stress.
In the Chernihiv region, 60 biathlon coaches joined the program. They practiced how to respond to injuries, bleeding, and other life-threatening conditions.
Young hockey players of the “Sea Wolves” club were not left aside. Twenty-four teenagers received their first knowledge of first aid, which became the foundation of a responsible approach to sports. Students of the Ivan Piddubny Olympic College gained similar experience. For them, the training complemented their sports preparation and provided practical skills.
Ambitious plans of Andrij Matiukha and the foundation to expand the first aid program
The organizers aim to involve around 1,800 participants across Ukraine by the end of the year.
Photo: FAST
“A coach has always shaped the character and results of athletes. Today, he must also be the one who can provide help in a critical moment. Athlete safety is the foundation of sports development. That is why, together with FAST, we are helping to implement this program,” emphasized Favbet Foundation president Andrij Matiukha.
The foundation has been operating since 2020. From the start, its mission was to give the younger generation more opportunities for growth. The team has supported sports and educational projects, infrastructure, and new programs. The next step has been a focus on building a culture of safety in sports.
“The future of Ukrainian sports depends on responsibility for the lives and health of those who dedicate themselves to training and competitions. We see that people need such training, we receive positive feedback, and that is why we are moving forward,” added Andrij Matiukha.
