More than 100 fathers, alongside their children, took part in a sports event dedicated to the International Father’s Day in Chisinau on June 17. The small athletes could put on uniforms in the changing rooms of the national football team of Moldova and could take part in sports activities with football elements on the main arena of the Zimbru Stadium, where the national teams perform, IPN reports.
The event was organized by UNICEF Moldova and the Moldovan Football Federation. The Federation’s secretary general Nicolae Cebotari in the opening of the event said the Federation was honored to become involved in the organization of this holiday, alongside UNICEF, because the father’s role is very important in the life of each child. “We hope that some of the children who now take part in these competitions together with their fathers in the future will supplement the national football team,” stated Nicolae Cebotari.
Attending the event, Deputy UNICEF Representative to Moldova Margarita Tileva said this year UNICEF decided to launch a special campaign so as to popularize the value of the father’s contribution to the bringing up and development of children. “It is very important for the father to also take the child in his arms, as the mother does, to take care of him and to spend time with him, especially during the first years of life, when brain develops much faster,” she stated, being quoted in a press release of UNICEF Moldova.
Stas Shiica came to the sports competition with his two children – a boy aged eight and a girl aged two. “I’m impressed by the way in which the event was organized. We would like more possibilities to exist for fathers who want to spend the free time together with their children in an active and interesting way. The International Father’s Day reminds once again how important it is for us, the men, to daily become involved in the education and development of our children,” said the man.
Innes Graeme, a volunteer from the UK who has worked in Moldova for a year, came to the event together with her four-year-old daughter. “It is a very nice holiday and I’m very glad to be here. I think it is very important for fathers to be near their children and to become involved in their growth and education. The father plays an important role for the whole family, especially children,” she stated.
Another participant Alexei Chitoroaga said he devotes his entire free time to his two children – Daniel aged nine and Bianca aged three. “We go together for walks, do sports, read, play and amuse ourselves. We came to today’s even with the whole family. Such holidays are very good as they remind of the importance of constantly becoming involved in the life of the children who daily need our assistance to grow and develop harmoniously,” stated Alexei Chitoroaga.
His wife Diana Chitoroaga said the International Father’s Day should be celebrated in Moldova nationwide. “Our family will celebrate the Father’s Day each year because our father is the best and gets involved in everything that concerns our children,” she noted.
The sports activates involved fathers with sons and daughters of different ages and also children with disabilities from the left side of the Nistru River. In the event, the Moldovan Football Federation donated a batch of sports equipment to the inclusive kindergarten of Chisinau “Sun Rise”.
