President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a video meeting with the athletes who will represent our country at the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games in Paris and their coaches.
“Each of us makes their own contribution. The fact that you, our Ukrainian National Team, are at the Olympic Games today is already a victory for Ukraine. I believe that you are passing this war test of our morality, identity and Ukraine as a whole with dignity,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State noted that the performance of Ukrainian athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris will become a symbol of remembrance of Ukrainians killed by Russia. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, 489 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed and 10 have gone missing.
The President thanked the coaching staff and the management of the National Olympic Team for their constant support and training of the athletes.
“This is a great victory for the entire European community, for the entire world, that Ukraine does not give up, that it also fights at the Olympics. It is particularly important that we keep our National Team,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The Head of State emphasized that athletes of the aggressor state of Russia in team sports, as well as those who support the war, were not officially allowed to compete at the Olympics in Paris. This is the achievement of the entire civilized world.
Olympic rowing champion Anastasiia Kozhenkova, Olympic shooting champion Olena Kostevych, Olympic boxing silver medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak and head coach of the national diving team Illia Tseliutin thanked the President for his support and stated that they would do everything possible to represent Ukraine with dignity at the Summer Olympics.
Vadym Guttsait, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, presented Volodymyr Zelenskyy with a uniform of the Ukrainian National Olympic Team.
The XXXIII Summer Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11 this year. Ukraine will be represented in Paris by 147 athletes in 26 sports.