The first group of Ukrainian athletes and coaches being supported to continue their sports life in spite of the ongoing Russian invasion of their country departed on Thursday for the U.S.
The departure is ahead of their participation in next month’s World Athletics Championships holding at Eugene in Oregon, U.S.
Global athletics ruling body, World Athletics is distributing more than 220,000 U.S. dollars to support Ukrainian athletes preparing for the World Championships and the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia.
This was in response to the crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
World Athletics, the Member Meetings of Diamond League Association, and the International Athletics Foundation had launched a Ukraine Fund in April.
It was with the purpose of assisting professional athletes, immediate family members, and their support personnel affected by Russia’s invasion of their home country.
This was in addition to a Solidarity Fund established by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February.
The IOC Solidarity Fund has already allocated about 2.5 million U.S. dollars to the Ukrainian Olympic Community and sports movement.
Both funds have enabled the Ukrainian Federation to pay a significant portion of the cost of training camps and competitions across Europe for athletes preparing for these major events.
Also, a number of European National Olympic Committees, in coordination with the IOC, have provided support too.
The Athletics Ukraine Fund is now being used to fund the entire Ukrainian delegation’s attendance in Oregon.
So far 53 athletes, 25 coaches and officials, and 18 family members including children have received assistance from the Fund.
With the support of the IOC, the Fund will also ensure the Ukrainian team’s attendance at the World Under-20 Championships in Cali in August.
The IOC and European Athletics also assisted with training camps in Europe.
Equally, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee are providing additional support for athletes attending a training camp in California leading into the World Championships.
Commenting on this development, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “I am grateful and proud of the way the athletics community and the Olympic community have come together to support the Ukrainian Federation as they try to keep as many athletes as they can in training and competition.
“My thanks go to everyone involved for their support as these athletes prepare to represent their country while the war continues.”
Iolanta Khropach, General Secretary of the Ukrainian Athletic Association, was also full of praises for the support.
She said the federation was extremely grateful for the support of the combined athletics organisations and the IOC who came immediately to their aid after the invasion.
“They help our athletes to train and compete,” she said. “Without this support, it just would not be possible.
“This is more than just having good facilities and the possibility to perform at World Championships and other events. World Athletics, European Athletics and the IOC have helped to save the lives of our athletes.
“Many Ukrainian athletes now defend our country with weapons in their hands. Our sports infrastructure is destroyed.”
Khropach recalled that World Athletics was one of the first sports organisations in the world that banned Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials.
“We appreciate it so much and believe in World Athletics’ strong position in the future.
“We are grateful to World Athletics and the IOC, as well as to every federation, LOC, other organisations, and individuals supporting us during these challenging times.
“Now we feel like never before that we are a true athletics family.”
The organisations who have made generous contributions to the Ukraine Fund include Members of the Diamond League Association, the International Athletics Foundation, the IOC, USOPC, and PWC France Sports Challenge.
The fund can receive additional contributions at any time until fund closure which is set for Dec. 31 in 2023, with funding per beneficiary being allocated on a needs-basis.
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