Velyki Perehony (; ) is a Ukrainian reality competition show that was based on the American series The Amazing Race. Following the premise of other versions in the Amazing Race franchise, the show follows ten teams of two as they race around the world. The show was split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in foreign areas, interact with locals, perform physical and mental challenges, and travel by air, boat, car, taxi, and other modes of transport. Teams are progressively eliminated at the end of most legs for being the last to arrive at designated Pit Stops.
The show visited three continents and eight countries and traveled over during twelve legs. Starting in Kyiv, teams travelled through the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Poland before returning to Ukraine, travelling through Lviv Oblast and finishing in Kyiv. The first team to arrive at the Finish Line wins the grand prize of ₴500,000.
The show was hosted by Oleksandr "Fozzy" Sydorenko and produced by Sister's Production (Сістерз Продакшн), in association with ABC Studios and premiered on 1+1 on 13 April 2013 at 20:00 EEST. The finale aired on 29 June, and a special "Life after the Race" episode aired on 6 July.
Beauty queens Valeria Nikiforets and Bohdana Primak were the winners, while common-law married couple Oleksiy Yeremeyev and Olena Dolzhenko finished in second place and father and son Kostyantin and Yakiv Potomkyiv finished in third place.
Production Development and filming
On 23 July 2012, Ukrainian television network 1+1 announced that it had acquired the rights to make a version of The Amazing Race. On 23 November 2012, it was revealed that Ukrainian hip-hop singer Oleksandr "Fozzy" Sydorenko would host the show.
The show began filming on 25 November and lasted for four weeks. The show was produced by Sister's Production (Сістерз Продакшн), in association with ABC Studios. The first teaser for the show was released on 16 January.
Production arrived in the Philippines only a few days before the region was struck by Typhoon Bopha. The fifth episode makes many remarks about the coming storm, and heavy rainclouds, wind and thunder could be seen while the teams were racing.
Casting Casting for the show was announced on the website of 1+1 on 23 July 2012.
Marketing The series' two sponsors are Carlsberg and Fa.
Contestants Ten teams of two make up the cast. At 72 years old, Vladimir from father and daughter team, Vladimir and Irina Vasilenko, is the oldest contestant in the Amazing Race franchise history. Other racers including beauty queens, athletes, actors and physicians, etc.
During the eleventh leg, Oleksiy proposed to Olena at the Pit Stop and she accepted.
ContestantsAgeRelationshipHometownStatus (Володимир) 72Father & DaughterKharkivEliminated 1st(in Dubai, United Arab Emirates) (Ірина) 40 (Алла) Mother & Daughter KyivEliminated 2nd(in Colombo, Sri Lanka) (Олександра) (Анна) Married ActorsKyivEliminated 3rd(in Singapore) (Роман) (Андрій) DatingKyivEliminated 4th(in Puerto Princesa, Philippines) (Ірина) (Наталя) FriendsBrovary, KyivEliminated 5th(in Garden Route, South Africa) (Тетяна) (Ігор) 27Friends/AthletesKyivEliminated 6th(in Marken, Netherlands) (Василь) (Олександр) PhysiciansKyivEliminated 7th(in Kraków, Poland) (Володимир) (Костянтин) Father & SonKyivThird Place (Яків) 18 (Олексій) Common-Law MarriedSimferopol, CrimeaSecond Place (Олена) (Валерія) Beauty Queens LvivWinners (Богдана)
Results The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Placements are listed in finishing order: TeamPosition (by leg)Roadblocksperformed1234567891011122nd4th1st3rd5th3rd2nd1st1st1st1st1st9th7th7th2nd7th2nd3rd4th2nd3rd2nd8th5th4th1st2nd1st4th2nd3rd2nd2nd3rd7th6th6th1st5th5th4th1st2nd2nd4th6th4th1st3rd6th6th5th5th4th6th5th1st3rd7th3rd4th3rd8th3rd8th Key A team placement indicates that the team was eliminated. A team placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg. An placement indicates that the team would receive a 30-minute (Leg 2) or 1-hour (Leg 8) penalty after finishing the next leg. An placement indicates that the team had to perform an extra task on the next leg. An underlined leg number indicates that there was no mandatory rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were ordered to continue racing. An underlined team placement indicates that the team came in last, was ordered to continue racing, and didn't receive a penalty or extra task in the next leg.
Notes
^Kostyantin & Yakiv and Oleksiy & Olena initially arrived 8th and 10th (last) place, respectively, but were issued 1-hour penalties because they were unable to complete the Roadblock due to dusk. While Kostyantin & Yakiv's placement were not affected, Oleksiy & Olena were moved to 9th place due to another team incurring a longer penalty (see note 2). Volodymyr & Iryna initially arrived 9th, but were issued a 4-hour penalty for quitting the Roadblock. However, due to Oleksiy & Olena having a shorter penalty time, their placement dropped to last place, which resulted in their elimination. Oleksiy & Olena initially arrived 3rd, but were issued a 4-hour penalty because Oleksiy failed to complete the Roadblock. Four teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping Oleksiy & Olena to 7th. Oleksandr & Volodymyr initially arrived 8th, but they did not pay their taxi driver. They were required to settle the bill before being allowed to check in. Alla & Oleksandra checked in during their penalty time, dropping Oleksandr & Volodymyr to last place; however they were not eliminated as Fozzy notified that this leg was non-elimination. Oleksandr & Volodymyr initially arrived 4th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for arriving last in the previous non-elimination leg. Kostyantin & Yakiv and Tatiana & Natalia checked in during their penalty time, dropping Oleksandr & Volodymyr to 6th. Each team (except Yakiv and Roman) were unable to complete the Roadblock and were issued 4-hour penalties at the site of the Roadblock. ^ Valeria & Bohdana, Ihor & Vasyl, and Olena & Oleksiy initially arrived 1st, 2nd and 3rd, respectively, but each teams were issued 1-hour penalties because they rented a jeepney to themselves. Per the show's rules, once teams rent public transportation (i.e. Jeepneys) for themselves, it is considered private transportation which they are prohibited from using. Four teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 5th, 6th and 7th (last) place, respectively. However, they were notified the leg was a no-rest leg and Fozzy gave their next clue. Tatiana took a 4-hour penalty for not completing the Roadblock in Leg 7 due to her fear of heights. However, since Tatiana & Natalia checked-in at the Pit Stop last, they were eliminated without the penalty being applied. Valeria & Bohdana initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 1-hour penalty for asking a local to guide them to the air strip in Leg 8. Per the show's rules, teams can only consist of not more than two people, and cannot hire locals to join their team, even if temporarily. This did not affect their placement. Oleksandr & Volodymyr initially arrived 1st, but received a 1-hour penalty for arriving last on the previous non-elimination leg. Three teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping Oleksandr & Volodymyr to 4th. Ihor failed to complete the Roadblock in Leg 9. After Ihor's third attempt in the Roadblock and all other teams had checked in, Fozzy came out to the Roadblock location to inform them of their elimination. Oleksiy & Olena initially arrived 2nd, but they asked two different locals to help guide them as they drove during Leg 11. Oleksiy & Olena fell to last place; however they were not eliminated as Fozzy notified that this leg was non-elimination.
Prizes Individual prizes were awarded to the first team to complete certain legs. Leg 5 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 6 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 7 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 8 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 9 – A case of Carlsberg beer and a certificate for free Fa products for a year Leg 10 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 11 – A case of Carlsberg beer Leg 12 – ₴500,000
Race summary
Leg 1 (Ukraine → United Arab Emirates)
Airdate: 13 April 2013 Kyiv, Ukraine (Sophia Square) (Starting Line) Kyiv (Boryspil International Airport – Terminal F) Kyiv (Boryspil International Airport) → Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Dubai International Airport) Dubai (Burj Khalifa – Observation Deck) Dubai (Old Souk Abra Station) Dubai (Dubai Gold Souk – Yousuf Abdul Rahman Al Awazi Trading Co.) Dubai (Dubai Spice Souk – Al-Arsa Souq or Gold Souq) Palm Jumeirah (Atlantis, The Palm – Aquaventure (Leap of Faith)) Al Faqa (Al Faqa Desert) Dubai (Madinat Jumeirah)
This series' first Detour was a choice between (Sklo – Glass) or (Zoloto – Gold). In Sklo, teams had to assemble ten hookahs to receive their next clue. In Zoloto, teams had to arrange five pieces of jewellery according to cost to receive their next clue.
In this series' first Roadblock, one team member had to drive a dune buggy through a marked course in the desert to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks At Sophia Square, teams had to search among pictures of different countries' coats of arms to find the one of the nation they would be visiting, the United Arab Emirates, before they could drive to the airport to find their next clue. Before proceeding to Yousuf Abdul Rahman Al Awazi Trading Co. at the Gold Souk, teams had to have their photograph taken with someone wearing the traditional Arab garments. If their photographs were satisfactory, they would be given a stamp for a postcard they would have to choose from. After placing the postcard in a post box for Kyiv, the shopkeeper would give them their next clue. At Aquaventure, teams had to slide down the Leap of Faith water slide, which dropped them six stories down a nearly 90° incline and through a tunnel beneath the aquarium's shark lagoon, to receive their next clue from the lifeguard.
Leg 2 (United Arab Emirates → Sri Lanka)
Airdate: 20 April 2013 Dubai (Dubai Media City Park) Dubai (Dubai International Airport) → Colombo, Sri Lanka (Bandaranaike International Airport) Kahatowita (Sri Bodhirukkarama Temple) Colombo (Cinnamon Gardens Post Office) Colombo (Kollupitiya Market or Laundry Depot) Colombo (Donegal House) Colombo (Sri Lanka Masks Festival) Colombo (Seema Malaka)
This leg's Detour was a choice between (Hostro – Hot) or (Brudno – Dirty). In Hostro, teams had to carry of spicy peppers through a market and then mash the peppers into a sauce to receive their next clue. In Brudno, teams had to wash a bag full of dirty laundry, and then hang it on a clothesline to receive their next clue.
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to spin a large wheel with pictures of various masks on it, memorize the mask on the slot where the wheel stopped, and find the actual mask within the festival crowd to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks At Bodhirukkarama Temple, teams had to find a needle in haystack and use it to sew an emblem onto traditional Buddhist clothes to receive their next clue. Before proceeding to the post office, teams had to have their photograph taken with a blue auto rickshaw while wearing the Buddhist clothes from the previous task. They can then trade this photo for a postcard, which they would have to mail to Kyiv. At Donegal House, teams had to retrieve their next clue from the bottom of a basket of cobras.
Leg 3 (Sri Lanka)
Airdate: 27 April 2013 Colombo (Galadari Hotel) Colombo (Mahazime Chicken Shop) Colombo (Fort Railway Station) → Kalutara (Kalutara South Railway Station) Kalutara (Main Street) Bandaragama (Wevita Lake) Bandaragama (Bandaragama Post Office) Panadura (Gangula Devalaya) Mount Lavinia (Mount Lavinia Hotel)