Athlete in UKRAINE Plays in All Star Basketball Games

Hello, my name is Oleksandr Khorunzhak.  I am 21 and I participate in Special Olympics Ukraine.
       
Since my childhood I have always been fond of basketball.   But when I tried to play with my neighbors in our yard they often made fun of me or didn't give me a chance to be the member of their team.  As a result, my mother was my first partner and my first coach.  When we learned that the Special Olympics Ukraine was opening a regional office in my native town of Kherson to work with people who have Down syndrome like me, I was among the first to register in basketball with a real coach!  I called him uncle Valery. Two year have passed I've been constantly training and played for the Special Olympics Ukraine Unified basketball team. We won amongst Special Olympics teams in my home town. 

This year our team took part in an event, organized by Special Olympics Ukraine on April, 11 in the city of Mykolayiv during the FIBA Europe "All Stars Games" with the best players of the National Super League.  In the intervals I had a chance to play basketball in one team with Top Super League players.  Our National Basketball Federation gave me a special present.  Some moments of my match were shown on TV channels!  And now my team-mates, my mother, my coach, as well as my neighbors are very proud of me.  I do understand I don't play basketball well enough, but I'll master it by all means!
       
Photo: A photo of myself after the All Star Games event.  (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics Ukraine)

Oleksandr Khorunzhak