Ukraine & Switzerland, April 26, 2022 – International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Sergii Bubka has visited Ukrainian athletes in his homeland and across Europe as part of the organisation’s extensive effort to provide aid and support to competitors from the war-torn nation.

In special IOC missions, Olympic pole vault champion Bubka, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, has met the athletes who are being helped, and inspected the conditions and facilities where they are living and training during the time of crisis.

“(IOC) President Thomas Bach requested me to take this role to find the best way to help Ukrainian sport.” said Mr Bubka, “We sent many athletes and coaches all over different countries, approximately 3,000. Our partners, stakeholders, our Olympic Family, International Federations and National Olympic Committees are doing an excellent job to support them.”

“When the bombs started landing in Kyiv in February it was a big shock. I started to think what my role and position would be in this war. I immediately contacted the IOC leadership. We were in contact also with the chief of the office of President Zelensky. We can see the sport movement reacted very strongly and showed firm unity.”

Over two million dollars has already been allocated to a Solidarity Fund set up by the IOC. The main aim is enabling Ukrainian athletes to continue taking part in international competitions, by providing not just financial aid, but also logistical support, travel support, offering training facilities, accommodation, equipment and uniforms, amongst other things.

The efforts of the IOC and the Olympic Movement are being coordinated by a task force led by Mr Bubka.

Over Easter, Sergii Bubka and the Ukrainian Minister for Youth and Sport, Vadym Guttsait, Olympic fencing champion, visited a number of training centres in Ukraine and met with athletes. And last week they continued their visits to Ukrainian athletes abroad, in Italy and Switzerland.

In the Italian capital Rome, Mr Bubka and Mr Guttsait were welcomed by Giovanni Malago, IOC member and President of the NOC of Italy, which is hosting over 400 Ukrainian athletes and coaches. In Switzerland, they were joined by IOC President Bach in visits to the Olympic House in Lausanne and the World Cycling Centre in Aigle, where Ukrainian cyclists are continuing to train for events. Talking to the athletes highlighted the horror being experienced by them and their families back in Ukraine:

“President Bach asked one girl from Ukraine about her family.” Mr Bubka continued. “She said her parents are in Mykolayiv and started to cry. It was very nice that her teammates hugged her, we hugged her. These are human feelings. This is very tough, of course, and we try to give them hope.”

“We are losing the lives of our people, our Ukrainian people, but we strongly believe we must be present in international sports events. Our flag and anthem must be heard by people all over the world.”