The regional sports competition “Games of Veterans”, launched by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine, was held at the OSUIA. The event was supported by the NGO “Veterans Hub Odesa”.

Participants, including veterans and active military personnel, competed in cross-fit. It is important to note that cross-fit combines various physical activities aimed at developing endurance, strength, speed and coordination. It includes elements of weightlifting, gymnastics, cardio, and bodyweight exercises, such as squats, jumps, or horizontal bar lifts.

The participants were greeted by: Ruslana Velychko-Tryfoniuk, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine for European Integration, Viacheslav DAVIDENKO, acting rector of the Odesa State University of Internal Affairs, and Oleksandr GOLOPOTELIUK, founder of the NGO “Veterans Hub Odesa”.

Viacheslav DAVIDENKO noted that the university staff is always ready to support initiatives aimed at developing adaptive veteran sports and helping representatives of veteran communities with rehabilitation and physical recovery.

Performers of the band “Druzhe muziko” (leader Maksym Trubnikov) presented all those present with their own patriotic songs that inspired veterans to victories and sporting achievements.

The participants of the sporting events were military personnel, war veterans and persons discharged from military service or law enforcement agencies who were injured, wounded or ill during or as a result of their duties in the combat zone.

The Veterans Games sports competition is part of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine's Project “Development of Sports for Veterans” as part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine, developed at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Unit of Communication of the OSUIA