The Ukrainian sporting community identified 10 democratic values during a national workshop organised as part of the European VALUE COMPASS project

The event was organised by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine as part of the international project “VALUE COMPASS: Promoting Democratic Values in Sport in Europe”, which is co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

The workshop took place in a hybrid format — at the Olympic House in Kyiv and online. Representatives from various sectors of Ukraine’s sporting ecosystem took part in the discussion: athletes, coaches, representatives of the Olympic and Paralympic movements, national sports federations, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, regional sports organisations, the academic community and sports media.

Opening the event, Olga Danko, Chair of the Ukrainian NOC’s ‘Athlete’s Entourage’ Commission and coordinator of European cooperation projects, emphasised: ‘Ukraine’s path to the European Union is also a path of shared values. That is precisely why it is extremely important that the Ukrainian sporting community not only draws on European experience but also contributes to shaping a shared vision of democratic values in sport. Today, Ukraine’s voice is becoming part of the European dialogue on what the sport of the future should look like.”

The workshop was moderated and provided with academic support by the University of Bielefeld (Germany) — the project’s academic partner and developer of the VALUE COMPASS methodology. Participants took part in a series of interactive sessions combining individual work, work in pairs, small groups and plenary discussions. This approach enabled the development of a shared vision of democratic values through open dialogue and consensus among all participants.

A key outcome of the event was the formulation of a Ukrainian list of democratic values in sport and their definitions. Following extensive discussion and collaborative work, the participants agreed on ten values which, in their view, best reflect the needs and priorities of the Ukrainian sporting community: fair play; equality; freedom; accessibility; solidarity; inclusivity; tolerance; modernity; diversity; honesty.

Freedom held a special place among these — a concept which the participants defined as a combination of liberty, willpower and self-determination. According to the workshop participants, this value is unique to the Ukrainian context and reflects the historical aspiration of Ukrainians to live freely, to determine their own future independently and to stand up for their convictions. In the sporting world, ‘Will’ signifies inner strength, fortitude, perseverance and the ability to achieve success through hard work, determination and dedication to one’s cause.

Many definitions were formulated with contemporary Ukrainian realities in mind. During the discussion, participants repeatedly emphasised that the experience of full-scale war directly influences the understanding of democratic values in sport. Thus, the concept of equality was viewed not only as ensuring equal rights to participate in sporting activities, but also as the need to create the fairest possible conditions for athletes’ training. In the context of the war, Ukrainian athletes train under very different circumstances: some have access to sports infrastructure and safe conditions, whilst others are forced to train under the threat of air raid alerts, the loss of sports facilities or forced displacement. This is precisely why ensuring equal opportunities for training, development and achieving results takes on special significance for Ukrainian sport.

At the same time, in defining the principle of fair play, the participants expressed their stance on barring representatives of the aggressor state from international sporting competitions, emphasising that respect for the rules and values of sport cannot exist in isolation from respect for international law and human dignity.

The results of the Ukrainian workshop will contribute to the European Value Framework, which is being developed as part of the VALUE COMPASS project involving Germany, Poland, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ukraine. Following scientific verification by the University of Bielefeld, the results of all national workshops will be consolidated into a common European system of democratic values in sport.

Based on this work, an interactive digital tool called VALUE COMPASS will be created to help sports organisations define their own values profile, assess the extent to which democratic values are integrated into their activities, and receive practical recommendations for further development. A VALUE GUIDE will also be produced – a practical handbook containing examples, roadmaps and recommendations for implementing these values in the activities of sports organisations.

Vadym Guttsait, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, remarked: “Today, the topic of democratic values holds particular significance for Ukraine. Every day, the Ukrainian people defend their freedom, dignity and the right to be part of the European democratic community. That is precisely why the Ukrainian sporting community’s participation in shaping a shared European vision of democratic values is of the utmost importance. Sport has always been, and remains, a powerful tool for bringing people together and fostering mutual respect and responsibility. I am convinced that the outcomes of the Ukrainian workshop will make a significant contribution to the development of a European sporting environment based on the principles of freedom, equality, solidarity and human dignity.”

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VALUE COMPASS is a collaborative project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport programme. The project runs from January 2026 to December 2027 and aims to develop a shared vision and the practical implementation of democratic values in sport across Europe. Its outcomes are designed to be used by National Olympic Committees, sports federations, regional organisations, clubs and volunteers in various countries.

Co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. The European Commission’s support for the preparation of this publication does not imply endorsement of its contents, which reflect only the views of the authors, and the Commission accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of the information contained in this publication.