#RebuildRugby Ukraine - Day 1

Day 1

My first full day in Odesa thankfully began with electricity; the Grand Ortara Hotel is a wonderful place and it's easy to see exactly why it was very popular with holiday makers before the war began.

Post conflict, there will certainly be a need to focus on regeneration and whilst given the total hiatus in areas such as construction, one might be forgiven for not suggesting sport it high on that list. Team sports however have been proven around the world as a haven for wellbeing, especially for service personnel whether they have fought in combat or not. Sport, has a unique place in the culture, personality and pride of both nations and people and sport should be one of the priorities to both rebuild a nation and its people.

Over the years, Odesa has thrived as a holiday destination for many across Europe, the lure of the meromictic waters of the Black Sea, the architecture, the beaches or simply the people who welcome the tourists so warmly.

Perhaps now, whilst construction is on hold and both in readiness for the fighters to return and to provide respite, community and the foundations for the future, people should be looking to invest in sport - that is exactly what The Rugby Foundation is doing with #RebuildRugby but we need help and support.

Whilst walking along the top of the cliffs today, Bogdan points out a "castle like" building on the water's edge, the roof undergoing some construction. "That was the target of the 29th April bombing, I was here" he remarked, "I walked past this spot two minutes before the bombs came."

 The CCTV images from that day show cluster munitions being used, launching masses projectiles like tiny missiles from an air burst across a wide area. Bogdan was lucky that day, hearing the first explosion and being close to a building he managed to shelter under a car port. Not so fortunate were those walking their dog or reading on a park bench who were hit by the indiscriminate weapons and died.

Whilst Odesa does seem to go about its daily business, it feels like a holiday destination hibernating during the winter; cafe's, shops even hotels boarded up, but the cafe culture of a European City, the boutiques and malls are still bustling with an un-easy calm.

The people of Odesa continue to work, shop, eat and drink; they greet each other warmly in the street but alongside this "life", there are constant reminders of war, whether that be the constant drone of generators for when the electricity goes out or a billboard to join the army standing alongside a High Street brand.

Please help us in Ukraine by donating via our GoFundMe page or get in touch if you can help in other ways.

https://gofund.me/d7b5cc4b