Praise The Participation Of Ukrainian Athletes At The 2024 Paris Olympics, President Zelensky: This Is A Victory
JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Ukraine's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as he held a video meeting with athletes and coaches who would represent Ukraine at the quadrennial multi-pronged sporting event.
"Each of us contributes itself. The fact that you, the Ukrainian National Team, are at the Olympics today is already a victory for Ukraine. I believe you have passed this war test, namely the overall test of morality, identity and Ukraine with dignity," President Zelensky said., quoted from the Ukrainian Presidential website July 25.
President Zelensky further noted that the appearance of Ukrainian athletes at the Olympics in Paris would be a symbol of warning for Ukrainians killed by Russia. Since the start of the massive Russian invasion, 489 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed and 10 people are missing.
The President thanked the coaching staff and management of the National Olympic Team for their relentless support and training for the athletes.
"This is a big win for the entire European people, for the whole world, that Ukraine does not give up, that Ukraine is also fighting in the Olympics. It is very important for us to defend our National Team," President Zelensky stressed.
I spoke with our Olympic athletes who will represent Ukraine at the Summer Games in Paris this week and extended my heartfelt wishes for their success. It is a great achievement for our nation to compete on equal footing with the world, even amidst of a full-scale war.We cheer… pic.twitter.com/LlOSUcI6mW
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 24, 2024
I speech with our Olympic athletes who will represent Ukraine at the Summer Games in Paris this week and extended my heart wishes for their success. It is a great achievement for our nation to compete on equal footing with the world, even amidst of a full-scale war.We cheer... pic.twitter.com/LlOSUcI6mW
Quoted from Reuters, Ukraine deployed a team of about 140 athletes, the smallest contingent ever sent to the Olympics in the post-Soviet period.
"Our flag and national anthem will fly in France along with all other countries respecting the lives and principles of the Olympics," President Zelensky said.
On the occasion, Olympic rowing champion Anastasiia Kozhenkova, Olympic shooting champion Olena Kostevych, Olympic boxing silver medalist Oleksandr Khyzhniak and national diving head coach Illia Tselikutin thanked President Zelensky for doing everything possible to represent Ukraine with dignity at the Summer Olympics.
On the same occasion, Ukrainian National Olympic Committee President Vadym Guttsait gave Volodymyr Zelensky the uniform of the Ukrainian National Olympic Team.
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Ukraine has been lobbying hard since the Kremlin invasion in February 2022, to ensure athletes from Russia and Belarus, a close ally of the Kremlin, are barred from participating in the Paris Olympics.
Only about 15 Russian athletes will compete as neutral athletes, without the permitted flag or national anthem and all undergo examinations to ensure they have no ties to the Russian military.
Russian officials have complained that the restrictions are unfair and discriminatory and some athletes have turned down offers to compete as neutral athletes.