The City of Tampere, Ilves-Hockey Oy and Tamhockey Oy have decided to donate 50 per cent of the ticket proceeds of the Aamulehti Tampere Cup to Ukraine and the residents of Kyiv, which has been twinned with Tampere since 1954.
In addition to donating the ticket proceeds, the City of Tampere has enquired Kyiv about their need for supplies. To help meet these needs, the City of Tampere is donating three decommissioned Nysse buses and, together with the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county, a water truck to Kyiv.
In addition to Ilves and Tappara, this year’s Aamulehti Tampere Cup will feature Porin Ässat and the Swedish team Timrå IK. On Friday 11 August 2023, Timrå will play Ässät and Ilves will play Tappara, and the medal games will then be played on Saturday 12 August 2023. Tickets are now available for purchase through the ticket sales channels of both clubs.
The Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland, Olga Dibrova, has been invited by the City of Tampere and the clubs to drop the ceremonial first puck of the local derby on Friday.
The donation of the ticket proceeds continues the efforts of Tampere, Ilves and Tappara to assist Ukrainian citizens in the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian war of aggression.
As soon as the Russian war of aggression began, the Tampere City Board decided on a EUR 150,000 donation of supplies and money to Ukraine. Since then, a number of buses that have been taken out of service by Tampere City Transport have been donated, for example, and aid supplies have been transported to Ukraine. Last year, the City organised the Apua Ukrainalle! charity concert in support of Ukraine and to honour the Odessa Ballet performers visiting Tampere. The summer camp for young people from Kyiv was organised for the second time this year. At the beginning of the year, the City of Tampere participated in the Generators of Hope drive to collect electric generators for our twinned city. A total of 33 generators were donated. The City Board also decided that the City of Tampere would participate in the effort not only by collecting, but also by purchasing generators and donating them to the drive.
– Tampere is still strongly determined to help Ukraine and its citizens. The donation of the ticket proceeds of Tampere Cup, the Tampere City Transport buses and the water truck are an example of what we are doing to help. It is great that we can do good together also through sports, says Kalervo Kummola, Mayor of Tampere.
In the early days of the war, Ilves-Hockey Oy started a fund-raising campaign through the Finnish Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, with nearly 200 people donating. The purpose of the funds donated to the Disaster Relief Fund was to financially support the international aid operation of the Red Cross, to send aid workers and material assistance to Ukraine and its neighbouring regions, and to help refugees arriving in Finland.
– Kyiv has been twinned with Tampere for a long time, and Ilves ice hockey players have had annual training camps there. Similarly, Kyiv ice hockey players have visited Tampere several times. Our club therefore has a long history with the people of Kyiv, and in this unfortunate situation, it is great that we can offer our assistance to them and the people Ukraine in general, says Risto Jalo, CEO of Ilves-Hockey Oy.
Tamhockey Oy donated Jori Lehterä's signed jersey to the Sport & Business Club Ukraine’s charity auction. The ambulance funded by the auction proceeds was handed over to the Ukrainian Border Guard Central Hospital, from where it was transported to Eastern Ukraine to help save lives.
– Ukraine is in constant need for aid, and we consider it a matter of honour to do our part to help and support the people of Ukraine, says Mika Aro, CEO of Tamhockey Oy.
The City and the clubs have also shown their symbolic support for Ukraine and all those affected by the war by using the colours of the Ukrainian flag in the outdoor lighting around Tampere and at hockey matches.
The City of Tampere, Ilves and Tappara warmly welcome everyone to the Aamulehti Tampere Cup for the opening of the ice hockey season on 11–12 August 2023, and to participate in supporting the citizens of Ukraine and our twinned city Kyiv.
