The Ministry of Veterans Affairs and its partners held an all-Ukrainian selection for the national team of Ukraine to participate in the United States Air Force Trials
The competition, which included eight types of adaptive sports, was organized by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, together with the NGO Invictus Games Ukraine, the NGO Come Back Alive, and the CO Stratcom Ukraine. The event is part of the Unified Calendar of Physical Culture, Sports and Recreation Events and Competitions of Ukraine for 2023.
In total, about 170 war veterans and active military personnel joined the sports competition, which lasted from December 12 to 14. Of these, 30 participants will represent the Ukrainian veteran and military community on the international stage.
Specifically, in the United States of America this spring. The competition was preceded by a two-week training camp for general physical fitness.
In January, a special commission is to select the members of the Ukrainian national team.
The United States Air Force Trials 2024 qualifying competition began with a grand opening ceremony hosted by Oleksandr Budko, callsign Teren. Oleksandr is a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
The organizers emphasized that the competition will contribute to the recovery and rehabilitation of military personnel and war veterans who were injured, wounded, or ill in the line of duty.
The main goals of the United States Air Force Trials 2024 are to involve as many veterans and military personnel as possible in physical activities and to popularize adaptive sports among veterans.
Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Yulia Laputina visited the competition as part of the All-Ukrainian selection of the Ukrainian national team to participate in the United States Air Force Trials.
She noted: “Active participation of veterans in adaptive sports is a victory over themselves on the way to recovery and return to peaceful life.” Following the selection, a team of 30 participants will represent our country at the international competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Svitlana Kashenets, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, noted that such training camps are important for veterans. In particular, for newcomers to sports, as they allow them to better adapt and prepare for competitions. She also thanked the coaches for their inspiring work and support of the participants.
Tetyana Lomakina, Advisor to the Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Access, spoke about the need for changes in legislation to integrate adaptive sports into the general sports system.
She emphasized that this would help create better conditions for veterans to practice sports, including training professional coaches and creating proper sports facilities.
Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, acting Executive Director of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting defenders in sports competitions. After all, veteran sports not only contributes to the physical recovery of veterans, but is also an important part of their social adaptation and psychological recovery.
🏹For more information about the All-Ukrainian selection, please visit Tribuna.com Ukraine, the information partner of the UVF
Read the blog of the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation on the platform of the information partner Tribuna, dedicated to the popularization of veteran sports, at the link: https://ua.tribuna.com/uk/blogs/fondveteraniv/
