The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine shows no signs of abating, and it may be a considerable time before a resolution is reached. Nonetheless, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is already preparing to reconstruct the country, which the war with Russia has ravaged.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced a charity football match called Game4Ukraine, to raise funds for the nation's rebuilding efforts. This event will involve the popular sport of football and the crypto industry. Notably, the match will also incorporate the metaverse.
It appears that the crypto industry has once again come to the aid of Ukraine. During the onset of the war, Ukraine's crypto donations gained attention because sending crypto globally proved to be a more efficient and speedy alternative to traditional financial institutions.
The game will feature a real-world match, and there will also be a metaverse-themed version of the game, which those who aren't present in the physical gathering can watch. The Ukraine charity match starts Saturday, August 5, at London’s historic Stamford Bridge stadium.
However, those who won't be present at Stamford Bridge to watch the game can follow through Sports’ broadcast of the match in an immersive digital watch party. Although the game at Stamford Bridge serves the same purpose of raising money, the Metaverse watch party seems to be event'snt's highlight.
The producers of the technologies that will enable the metaverse watch party are metaverse technology startup Improbable and content provider Global Fan Network. Fans who want to watch the match through the metaverse can use Improbable. According to the details of the game, there will be a donation link to United24. This new development marks one of the ways Ukraine is joining other countries worldwide to utilise the metaverse's capabilities.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, set it up "We're bringing the stadium — the roar of the crowd and even some of the players — in a groundbreaking #metaverse show," Improbable announced on Twitter.
#Game4Ukraine 🇺🇦 will be unforgettable!
— Improbable (@Improbableio) July 31, 2023
❓ Can't make it to Stamford Bridge?
👀 We've got something special for you.
We're bringing the stadium — the roar of the crowd and even some of the players — in a groundbreaking #metaverse show.
Join us: https://t.co/eYrzsQFes8 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/baF8hsRlqZ
What Will the Donations Be Used for?
The general detail is that the donations for the Ukraine charity match will be used to rebuild some of the places destroyed by the Russian armed forces during the war. Apparently, Russia has targeted many schools and even hospitals during their air raids.
However, it is said that the major part of the donations received will be used to rebuild the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky School in Chernihiv Oblast. The school was destroyed in one of the earliest Russian air raids in 2022. According to reports, the Ukrainian president is expecting to raise at least £1 million from extra donations from the match.
The match will be played between the current football stars in the world and the retired Ukraine football legends. However, some footballers who are not from Ukraine will also feature in the match. Oleksandr Zinchenko will captain one team (Yellow Team), containing Arsenal legends, including Robert Pires.
On the other hand, Andriy Shevchenko will captain the other team (Blue Team), and it will include many former Chelsea and AC Milan players. Other footballers that may feature in the match are Samuel Etoo and Gerard Pique.