Prison olympics

If I were told that this territory is designed and equipped to accommodate young men, I would never believe him. A grim entrance room, walls covered with old green paint, a narrow hallway, and an electric door-opening system. Downcast officials in uniforms politely suggested that we leave any communication devices at the entrance.

We stepped over the threshold and found ourselves in a clean inner courtyard of the Kremenchuk Penal Colony. Walking along clean-swept passages, for a while I could not hold back the overwhelming feelings: I felt pity not only for the guys I was about to meet but also, for some reason, myself, and I was gripped by some unexplainable fear. This lasted until I reminded myself that I was here just on business. The purpose of our visit had nothing to do with entertainment: I was fortunate to participate in a unique all-Ukrainian project — we we­re there to open the first sports village in a penal colony for juvenile delinquents.

We had no time to waste, because life here is governed by strict rules, which even General Major Mykola Isaiev, head of the Directorate for Executions in Poltava oblast, was in no position to change. “It’s never too late to start life from a new page,” he said, encouraging the inmates with his fatherly tone.

The multifunctional sports ground with artificial grass, set up by the Pavlychenko Brothers Foundation, was a magnificent gift to 134 young men aged 16 to 21. Furthermore, the foundation presented the colony with a set of training equipment, sports uniforms, soccer balls and volleyballs, tennis tables, and, surprisingly, packages with all kinds of sweets. This is precisely what such institutions badly lack.

“It doesn’t matter why you have found yourself here. What is more important is where you are going, and what goals you set for yourself, what your dreams are and what you want to achieve in life,” said Oleh Pavlychenko, president of the foundation, speaking to the inmates.

Projects like this do not bring any material benefits to the donors: for many years now the Verkhovna Rada has been unable to pass the law on taxation privileges. However, the example of the Pavlychenko Brothers Foundation, which has found and invested significant resources to set up a sports complex, is another proof that there are still noble people in Ukraine. The main incentive for such people is the satisfaction they receive from helping the penitentiary system, which has long been in need of radical reforms, and, most importantly, young people who have found themselves behind bars, and badly need this kind of support.

“Apart from the sports component, the project is aimed at drawing the state’s attention to the problems of ­educating young people who have gone down the wrong path” said Rostyslav Pavlychenko, the older of the brothers. “We were fortunate this year in that our concern was supported by Valerii Razdorozhny, a long-time partner of our foundation who has been actively engaged in setting up a modern sports village. Once this complex was completed on the territory of the colony, we decided to regularly hold a kind of Olympiad for inmates, with various sports being available. Previously we gave chess and checkers sets to this colony and now hope to discover advanced players in these sports.”

Young men are sent to a penal colony for various wrongdoings, and they are punished by their very isolation from society. However, owing to their young age, they are still responsive to the benevolent influence, and sports may help the educators in many ways. Our position is shared by the current Minister of Sports Ravil Safiullin, who sent us a telegram congratulating us on the opening of the sports complex.

The new sports grounds were first tested by soccer players: the inmates played against representatives of a Kremenchuk-based youth organization. It turned out that the starting line of a colony is fully prepared to successfully play any amateur team from the other side. It is possible that through sports many of the inmates will earn the ­pri­vilege of an early release.

After Rev. Vasyl, a priest of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church, blessed the complex, the inmates asked representatives of the foundation to help construct a small chapel on the territory of the colony. It may be built as soon as in autumn 2010, said Oleh Pavlychenko.

Unfortunately, the proposal to hold an all-Ukrainian soccer competition among prisoners in this complex is quite problematic, because these young men have been thrown in prison for a reason.