April 29: All-Ukrainian Football Day, World Wish Day

Today, on April 29, all Ukrainian football players and fans of the favorite game of millions of people on the planet can join the celebration of the All-Ukrainian Football Day, UNN writes.

On April 29, 1992, in Uzhhorod, the Ukrainian national football team played its first ever official match, losing to the Hungarians with a score of 1-3. Yurii Shelepnytskyi became the first captain of the team, and Ivan Hetsko scored the first goal of the Ukrainian national team.

In the same year, the first Ukrainian Football Championship took place, with Tavria from Simferopol sensationally winning.

All this was the beginning of the history of football in independent Ukraine. However, even during the Soviet era, Ukrainian football played a leading role. Kyiv Dynamo won the UEFA Cup in 1975 and 1986, and the European Super Cup in 1975. In 1975 and 1986, Ukrainian footballers Oleh Blokhin and Ihor Belanov won the Ballon d'Or, the highest individual award for footballers.

Since independence, Ukraine's national football team has managed to make it to the finals of the 2006 World Cup, and the 2016 and 2020 European Championships. The highest achievement is reaching the 1/4 finals of the World Cup.

In 2012, Ukraine, along with Poland, hosted the European Football Championship. In 2018, the final match of the Champions League took place in Kyiv.

The best Ukrainian football player of our time, Andriy Shevchenko, won the Ballon d'Or in 2004.

In the 2008-09 season, Shakhtar Donetsk won the last UEFA Cup. In the final match in extra time, the Ukrainian team snatched a 2-1 victory over German Werder.

It is still fashionable to join a sensitive event - World Wish Day. It is dedicated to the story of a terminally ill American boy, Christopher Greichus, who dreamed of becoming a police officer.

His wish touched everyone who knew about it so much that on April 29, 1980, four-year-old Christopher, a patient with leukemia, was organized a one-day stay in one of the police stations in Arizona. The boy was given a police uniform and a badge.

Christopher died some time later, but his story inspired many adults to organize the fulfillment of their most cherished wishes for terminally ill children.

Also today, many countries around the world are holding events to mark the Day of Undiagnosed Diseases.

The event was originally launched as the Undiagnosed Children's Awareness Day, but later changed its name because about 30% of undiagnosed diseases affect adults.

Another medical event today is World Immunology Day.

The purpose of today's event is to inform about the importance of immunology in the prevention and treatment of diseases. This is an opportunity for scientists to share the results of their research, highlight the latest advances in immunology and engage the public in the importance of vaccination and disease prevention.

Also on April 29, Gideon Sandbeck patented a zipper in the United States, and in 1997 the International Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was established.

According to the church calendar, today is the Day of Remembrance of the Nine Martyrs from the town of Kyzyk.

The preachers and theologians Theognisus, Rufus, Antipater, Theosthenes, Artemis, Magnus, Theodotus, Phaumasius, and Philemon lived in the city of Cyzicus in Asia Minor during the time of the persecuting Emperor Diocletian.

Nine preachers were captured and subjected to severe torture, but they did not renounce their faith in the Lord. All the martyrs were beheaded.

Today Artem, Fedot, Filimon, and Bohdan celebrate their name days.