• To support Ukrainian children, UNICEF is organizing the "Heroes' Match", a football match scheduled for Tuesday in Lyon.

  • Former OL players like Sidney Govou and Sonny Anderson, as well as Tony Parker and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be there.

  • UNICEF hopes to raise 624 million euros to help 7.5 million children.

Nervous, Vitalii Petko is a bit.

This 19-year-old student will kick off the

Heroes' Match on

Tuesday at the OL park in Lyon.

The charity meeting, organized by UNICEF, will bring together stars of football and show business.

So expect to see on the field players who have marked Olympique Lyonnais like Sidney Govou or Sony Anderson.

But also stars like Tony Parker or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Most of the funds raised will be donated to Urgence Ukraine, an emergency response program deployed in Ukraine to help 7.5 million children.

It is therefore logical that Vitalii, of Ukrainian origin, was chosen.

"It's an honor", comments the boy, elected from the youth council of the Dauphiné-Savoie Committee.

As a volunteer, he considers it important to help children in precarious situations: “For me, the child represents the future.

There are some who have prospects but as they lack food, care and education, it is difficult for them”.

If Vitalii invites spectators to come and see the match, it is to "contribute to aid", but also to "celebrate the 20th anniversary of OL's first league title" won on May 4, 2002.

Raising awareness of UNICEF's actions in Ukraine

On the day of the match, four stands will offer activities.

A juggling stand, acrobatic dances, a musical workshop, as well as a huge wall where to leave a note for Ukrainian toddlers.

Léonie Galopin, a 23-year-old student in civic service, participated in the creation of these stands.

For her, the most important thing is to “promote UNICEF and its actions by involving people”.

If the volunteers wish to raise 624 million euros, Pascal Rondé, head of sports at UNICEF Rhône and coordinator of the event, knows full well that “the match alone will not be enough”.

“Nevertheless, it will show that the need for resources is enormous.

Everyone can contribute by having the opportunity to participate in a special event,” he believes.

Tickets, sold for 10 euros, are available on the Olympique Lyonnais Internet ticket office.

If the match will only last 90 minutes, the real fight will always continue outside the stadium.

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  • Lyons

  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

  • Unicef

  • War in Ukraine

  • Soccer

  • Solidarity

  • Sport