Sport in Ukraine, as in any other country in the world, plays an important role. Sport permeates all levels of modern society, having a broad impact on the main spheres of society. It influences national relations, business life, social status, shapes fashion, ethical values, and people’s lifestyles. Sports not only helps to improve fitness and health, and develops personal integrity, but also helps you achieve your goals.
In Ukraine, the development of individual sports is primarily the responsibility of sports federations headed by presidents. Sports development is also promoted by various patrons and businessmen, who take under their guardianship individual clubs or sports areas, build various sports complexes, stadiums, create and finance sports educational institutions.
In this regard, the Obozrevatel website has compiled the top 10 businessmen of Western Ukraine who develop sports. It included:
Oleksandr Svishchov – President of the Water Polo Federation of Ukraine, President of Water Polo club Dynamo (Lviv)
Oleksandr Svishchov – President of the Water Polo Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian businessman, philanthropist. Oleksandr Svishchov heads the water polo club Dynamo Lviv”. Under his presidency the club achieved significant results: in a few years it became seven-time champion of Ukraine, eight-time winner of the Cup of Ukraine, three-time winner of the Super Cup of Ukraine. Today Water polo club Dynamo Lviv is the absolute leader of the Superleague water polo season 2023/2024.
In order to popularize sports among adults and children Oleksandr Svishchov opens a sports and entertainment complex “Leoland” in Lviv. The complex combines professional sports and active recreation under one roof.
Thanks to the businessman in Lviv there appeared a modern complex for tennis – indoor courts with modern hard surface. Besides, the appearance of the new complex gave an opportunity to athletes and everyone who wants to play tennis and organize tournaments all year round. The SRC has already hosted serious tennis tournaments, Ukrainian championships among children and adults, which Lviv has not had for more than ten years. And in the tennis school “LEOSPORT” for the year enrolled 130 people and this is a very big indicator.
Oleksandr Svishchov pays special attention to the development of the children’s variety. Thus, in March, with the support of the patron, a master class for young tennis players from Ukrainian tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Sergiy Stakhovsky was held in the sports and entertainment center “Leoland” in Lviv.
Oleksandr Svishchov not only develops water polo, but also invests in children and the development of sports in the country.
Hryhoriy Petrovych Kozlovskyy is the founder and honorary president of FC Ruh, a well-known Lviv businessman and philanthropist. In 2009, he took under his tutelage the adult and youth teams of the soccer club “Ruh” in the town of Vinniki.
Thanks to the support of Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy, the development of soccer is taking place not only in the West, but throughout Ukraine. The businessman and philanthropist creates a unique project – FC Ruh Football Academy – the first of its kind, which has no analogues in Ukraine. Anyone can get into the Academy – the main condition is sporting talent. It offers quality education and vocational training to its students. The best conditions have been created for this purpose – there are 3 fields with artificial turf, 5 – with hybrid turf and an indoor arena.
For Grigory Kozlovsky, support of sports and sports culture and responsibility for the future of the country are important. The businessman created the Academy, which has a modern sports infrastructure, and students study according to the program developed on the principles of academies of leading European clubs, and its coaching staff consists of highly qualified Ukrainian and foreign specialists. During its existence, Ruh Academy has already brought up many talented footballers who play for the adult team of Ruh and other Ukrainian clubs. In 2023, Ruh Academy won the Football Academy of the Year award according to Football Magazine.
Hrihoriy Kozlovskyy is also tutored by FC Ruh, in the season 2023/24 the main team of Ruh reached a new level and shows excellent results in the UPL, as well as struggling to qualify for the European Cup. In 2024, Ruh became the youngest team in the world out of over 60 professional leagues. And the Ruh U-19 team became the Ukrainian junior champion twice in a row and played in the UEFA Youth League.
Together with FC Ruh and the soccer academy, Hrihoriy Kozlovskyy helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The honorary president of the soccer club “Ruh” Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy has about a dozen and a half awards from the president and the military in different years, and in February 2024 the patron of the arts was awarded “For Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine” on behalf of Valeriy Zaluzhny.
Roman Stepanovich Fedyshyn is the president of the women’s handball club “Halychanka” and the head of the Lviv Region Handball Federation, one of the richest Lviv businessmen and co-owner of one of the largest markets in the city, heads the Association of Wholesale Markets of Agricultural Products of Ukraine and the Foundation of the Central European Wholesale Markets Initiative.
It is thanks to Roman Fedyshyn’s support that Lviv handball is developing powerfully. “Galichanka” Lviv is the strongest team in Ukraine. The team has repeatedly fought for the championship in the Women’s Super League, won the “gold” of the international Baltic League, repeatedly won the Cup and Super Cup of Ukraine and is the only representative of Ukraine in the women’s handball Eurocups.
Roman Fedyshyn also contributed to the realization of a number of ideas on the creation of sports institutions (for example, the water sports complex “Dolphin”), tournaments (cups “Shuvar” are held in several sports), opening of sports grounds.
For his significant contribution to the development of sports he was awarded a certificate of honor of the Lviv Regional State Administration. And for a significant personal contribution to the development of Ukrainian statehood, fruitful public activity, many years of conscientious work by the decree of the President of Ukraine № 229/2019 he was awarded the state award of Ukraine – the Order of Merit, III degree.
Oleg Vladimirovich Baran is the president of the volleyball club Barcom-Kazhany, co-owner and CEO of Barcom and the Rodinna kovbaska brand. The businessman popularizes volleyball not only in Lviv, but throughout Ukraine. VC “Barkom-Kazhany” repeatedly won the Cup of Ukraine. Since 2018 ” Kazhany” – the owners of the Super Cup and multiple winners of the championship of Ukraine. In the 2022/2023 season, Barcom Cajuns participated in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.
The volleyball team has received numerous awards and prizes for their accomplishments. Thanks to the achievements of “Kazhans” today Lviv is recognized as the volleyball capital of Ukraine. Oleg Baran, the president of VC “Barkom-Kazhany”, has also received awards.
Petro Mykhailovych Adamic – ex-rugby player and restaurateur, president of the Rugby Federation, founder of the public organization “West Ukrainian Rugby Association” and head of the rugby team “Sokol” (Lviv), a well-known Ukrainian political and public figure.
Petro Adamik promotes the development of rugby in Lviv as much as possible, because he is convinced that Lviv should become the sports capital of all Western Ukraine. On his initiative and support, the city stadium “Yunost” became the base stadium for training of the Sokol rugby team, as well as young rugby players and veterans of the game.
For his contribution to the development and popularization of physical culture and sports in Ukraine, achievement of high sports results and many years of professional activity he was awarded by the President of Ukraine with the title “Honored Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine”.
Valeriy Ivanovich Peresolyak is the owner and president of the Premier League soccer club “Minai” and is the founder and owner of the company “Western Biofuel Group”, which specializes in production from cork and plant materials.
In five years, the club has passed two divisions of the regional championship, the Ukrainian amateur championship and two professional leagues, reaching the Premier League in the summer of 2020. The club achieved such promotions by attracting experienced players: back in the regional championship, players with Premier League experience played for the club.
After the creation of the club, Valeriy Peresolyak built the stadium “Minay-Arena” in his village and opened a children’s soccer academy in Uzhgorod.
In addition to soccer, Valeriy Persolyak develops judo: he heads the Uzhgorod district judo federation and is the president of the judo club “Randori”, he held international competitions in this sport in Uzhgorod.
Evgeny Stanislavovich Beiderman – President of FC Podillya, owner of Podillya Trade Energy Ltd. FC Podillya plays in the First League of the Ukrainian championship.
Eugene Beiderman pays special attention to improving the commercial component of the club’s activities, as well as the development of the children and youth sector, so that competitions in the First and Second leagues will become the main source for strengthening the UPL clubs and national teams of Ukraine of different age groups.
Volodymyr Bohdanovich Matkivskyi is the owner of FC Karpaty, a well-known Lviv businessman and sugar magnate, owner of Radekhivskyi Sugar Ltd.
Volodymyr Matkivskyi is engaged in the revival of the legendary soccer club FC Karpaty. Now FC Karpaty is one of the most promising clubs in the First League and a contender for promotion at the end of this season. Today FC Karpaty are in 1st place in Group A of the First League with 57 points in 18 matches.
Thanks to Matkivskyi, FC Karpaty moved to a new training base in the village of Barativ. There are also plans to reconstruct the home stadium “Ukraine”.
Taras Zinovievich Hurik – Chairman of the Supervisory Board of FC Prykarpattya, also supports the basketball club Prykarpattya-Hoverla. He is known in the business circles of Prykarpattya as a successful businessman, politician and philanthropist.
He pays great attention to the development of sports in Ivano-Frankivsk, especially team sports. Involves not only professional and youth athletes, but also their families in the game of basketball. Already for the fifth time BC “Prykarpattya-Hoverla” organizes family basketball competitions.
