Venues around the world light up in solidarity with Ukraine

Venues around the world are showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine following the invasion of the country by Russia with Auckland’s Eden Park and the Sydney Opera House lit up as of last evening in the Ukrainian national colours.

New Zealand venues the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Sky Tower and Auckland Museum and Australia's the Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena were lit in blue and yellow to raise awareness and show their support for Ukraine.

In addition, global venues the Oslo City Hall in Norway, Ludwigsburg Palace, Palazzo Marino in the Italian city of Milan, Denmark’s Oresund Bridge, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, Rome’s Colosseum, Empire State Building in New York and hundreds of cities around the world all joined in condemning Russia's hostile actions actions.

The NSW Government joined support for Ukraine advising that the sails of the Sydney Opera House sails will be illuminated blue and yellow each night for the next week.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will be joined by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a Stand with Ukraine gathering at the Opera House from 8pm today, encouraging all members of the community to attend.

Advising that the lighting of the sails and the gathering demonstrated the solidarity the people of NSW have with the people of Ukraine, Premier Perrottet stated “the Russian military action in Ukraine endangers human life and liberty, it is an attack on sovereignty and we all have a stake in that

“We feel its enormity in NSW, which is home to large Ukrainian and Russian communities who will receive this news with deep concern for their many loved ones.”

Global venue development, advisory and investment company for the sports and live entertainment industries Oak View Group has announced that it will not do business in or with Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

World football governing body FIFA has also suspended Russian teams from international football competition as global sport closed the door on the invading nation.

In a statement released last night in conjunction with European football board UEFA, it advised “Fifa and Uefa have today decided together that all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams, shall be suspended from participation in both Fifa and Uefa competitions until further notice."

Images: Eden Park lit up in solidarity with the people of Ukraine (top, credit: Eden Park/Nick Sautner) and the Sydney Opera House illuminated in the colours of the Ukraine flag (below).