‘DoLikeOlympians’: at ‘Artek’, children tried their hand at over 20 sports alongside Olympians

Among the guests of honour at the event were the President of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, Olympic champion Vadym Gutzeit; the Director-General of the Artek International Children’s Centre, Serhiy Kapustin; and the Chair of the Kyiv City Branch of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, Pavlo Kostenko. 

Opening the event, Vadym Gutzeit welcomed the young participants and emphasised the importance of such gatherings for children.

“Children from all corners of Ukraine have gathered here today, and it is very important for us to give them this day — a day of sport, socialising and new experiences. ‘DoLikeOlympians’ is an opportunity to try your hand at different sports, chat with Olympians and, perhaps, discover a sport that will become your favourite. I hope you have as much fun as possible today, make new friends and believe in yourselves. It is often these small steps that mark the start of a great sporting journey.”

The young participants had the chance to try their hand at more than 20 sports, including: dance sport, table tennis, boxing, rowing, badminton, modern pentathlon, fencing, hockey, athletics and other activities. 

This year, the event’s programme also included international sporting initiatives, notably the Biathlon4All project from the International Biathlon Union (IBU), which aims to promote the sport amongst all sections of the population.

A special feature of the event was the opportunity for children not just to watch the athletes, but to try out a particular sport for themselves and receive guidance and advice from the star guests. Olympic champions and medallists, Olympic participants, and world and European champions took part in the masterclasses. Among them were Olena Pidhrushna (biathlon), Nataliia Dovhodko and Svitlana Mazii (rowing), Iryna Kolyadenko (wrestling), Olena Pakholchyk (sailing), Khrystyna Stuy (athletics), Olena Yatsenko and Olena Tsygitsya (handball), Hanna Sorokina (diving), Roman Svichkar and Joan Feibi Bezhura (fencing), Tetiana Kob and Volodymyr Matviychuk (boxing), Viktoria Onopriyenko (rhythmic gymnastics) and others. 

The ‘DoLikeOlympians’ project is an important initiative aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among Ukrainian young people. In times of war, such events take on particular significance, giving children the opportunity to feel supported, make new friends, discover sport for themselves and believe in their own abilities. 

The events organised by the NOC of Ukraine are supported by sponsors and partners: 4F, United Global Logistics, Resource Storage, the Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, Perets FM, the company ‘Tsifra’ and Champion Radio.