SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Parimatch has detailed that its Parimatch Foundation has contributed a total of €510,000 to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine, as the Russian invasion nears its 10th week.
Since 24 February, the sports betting operator and technology firm has spent €135,000 on the construction and maintenance of hubs for internally displaced persons in western Ukraine, where many refugees from the conflict in the east have been heading.
Additionally, nearly €80,000 was used to purchase and install two ventilators at Kyiv’s Okhmatdyt hospital, and a further €35,000 has been directed towards supporting Ukrainian athletes with disabilities.
Additional areas of spending included €20,000 on the purchase and delivery of hygiene sets from Cyprus – where Parimatch is based – to Ukraine, €6,000 on humanitarian logistics and a final €4,800 on evacuation from conflict hotspots.
Lastly, the company has delivered ‘around 40 tons’ of humanitarian aid in the form of food, medicine and clothing to Kyiv, Chermihiv and other regions that have been affected by the war.
“Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Parimatch Foundation – previously focused on educational and sports projects for children – has re-allocated most of its resources toward helping Ukrainian women and children survive the war and get to safety,” a Parimatch statement read.
“To ensure the effectiveness of this decision, a few aid branches were created within: humanitarian aid and medical needs, financial aid and fundraising, establishing new partnerships to raise funds, and sustaining the necessary projects of the Foundation.”
Evacuation efforts have seen over 600 women and children evacuated from cities in the conflict zone such as Irpin, Bucha, Kharkiv, Hostomel, Vorzel, whilst 100 displaced people have been given accommodation in Cyprus.
Moving forward, Parimatch has detailed that 4,000 accommodation hubs for refugees have been built already, with 1,000 more to go until the target is reached.
The firm plans to arrange ‘constant cooperation’ with psychologists and legal experts to support the relocated civilians in the newly constructed safe hubs, including launching the ‘War Trauma’ programme for children with PTSD.
Although based in Cyprus, Parimatch was founded in Kyiv in 1994, and so has been one of the gambling industry’s most prominent voices in condemning Russia’s invasion and providing support to Ukraine – the firm notably withdrew its Russian franchise shortly after the war began whilst coordinating its funding activities.
Wider industry reactions to the conflict have seen a range of firms donate towards the Gaming Industry for Ukraine fundraiser, which collects donations to support humanitarian charity Choose Love’s operations, and which as of March had raised €250,000.
