Veterans participated in adaptive skiing training at Holosiivska Hill in Kyiv. These skis are equipped with special chairs, enabling people with disabilities to engage in winter sports. The equipment was provided by sponsors from Norway and is also used by the Ukrainian national team to prepare for the Invictus Games in Canada.
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Ministry of Veterans’ Strategy
The introductory training session welcomed 10 veterans. Among them was Oleksandr Tolochenko, who suffered a severe injury in 2023. “It was mentally very challenging,” he shared. “I felt like I wouldn’t be able to do anything other than move around in a wheelchair. But sport helped me overcome these fears and return to an active life. I wish every wounded soldier could find their own sport.”
“The development of sports for veterans is a flagship project of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, implemented as part of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine, an initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine,” said Natalia Kalmykova, Minister of Veterans Affairs. “We are working to provide opportunities for sports participation everywhere, ensuring financial and geographical accessibility, and enabling veterans to take part in challenging sports like skiing. Although the project was launched recently, we are already seeing promising results. The veterans are performing excellently on the slopes, achieving levels that surpass expectations. It’s truly impressive. We are now refining our processes to expand this sport to other regions of Ukraine.”
Adaptive Sports in Ukraine
“For several years now, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has been actively involving the veteran community in sports: nationwide sports competitions for war veterans are held in Ukraine, and our national teams represent the country at international veteran sporting events, achieving outstanding results. Thanks to these initiatives, Ukraine is steadily advancing the development of adaptive sports as a pathway for continued rehabilitation,” said Tetiana Lomakina, Presidential Commissioner for Accessibility.
The National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine is also actively involved in organising adaptive skiing training for war veterans. The university provides its technical resources and practical expertise to support the implementation of joint projects.
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