TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Ukraine-born Taiwanese entertainer Larisa Bakurova is set to host the second International Rising Star Cup (瑞星盃韻律體操國際邀請賽) on Friday (July 5), aiming to attract more participants to Taiwan.
Bakurova is dedicated to promoting rhythmic gymnastics in Taiwan and hopes to expand the event to central and southern regions. However, due to limited resources, this goal has not yet been realized. She mentioned that children usually practice without air conditioning, relying only on electric fans, and called for more corporate sponsorship.
Last year, athletes from nine countries came to Taiwan for the event. This year, the number has risen to 15, with a total of 201 participants from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Canada, the United States, Germany, China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Japan, and Australia.
Bakurova hopes this opportunity will allow more people to personally experience the beauty of Taiwan. She emphasized that she is not overly concerned about the competition results for the children, believing that their health and happiness are the most important.
When asked about her family's situation in Ukraine, Bakurova couldn't help but shed tears. She shared that her grandmother is in poor health and has difficulty moving, expressing hope to see her again before she passes away.
Bakurova expressed deep gratitude for her family's support and understanding. She said she feels very fortunate to be able to do what she loves and to help children.
