Ukrainian Olympians are heading to Paris with smiles on their faces, determined to honour those who were unable to make it to France this summer because of the country’s ongoing war with Russia.
A display of sports equipment was set up in London’s Parliament Square on Wednesday to commemorate the 487 Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Only 140 athletes will compete in the Olympics, the smallest number in the country’s history at the Summer Olympics. Among those honored are weightlifter Oleksandr Pierischenko, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, and 11-year-old rhythmic gymnast Katerina Dyachenko, who died in March 2022.
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The British government is commemorating Ukrainian athletes killed during the Russian invasion with a display of sports equipment. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
“I have always believed in the power of sports to unite and inspire people,” Ukrainian-American figure skater Sasha Cohen said in a news release. “But today I’m not just speaking as an athlete. I’m speaking as the daughter of a Ukrainian immigrant mother, Galina. I’ve grown up with stories about Ukraine, our culture, our people and their resilience.”
Former Ukrainian wrestler Oksana Lakhra poses in front of a British government display in Parliament Square, London, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
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“Today, I am in awe of the Ukrainian athletes taking part in the Olympic Games and think of those we lost in the war and those we miss. Their courage, strength and determination embody the spirit of my mother’s country and I stand in solidarity with them. Together, we can show the world the power of unity in sport.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the UK and met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
A display of sports equipment and the number 487 will be displayed in Parliament Square in London on Wednesday 24 July 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
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“All Ukrainian athletes participating in the Olympics embody Ukraine’s will to win, Volya. If we act quickly and with united efforts, we will create a world where Ukrainian athletes and people are free from Russian threats,” Heorhyy Tykhy, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement.
The Paris Olympics will officially kick off with an opening ceremony on Friday evening.
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