In a poignant tribute to the numerous Ukrainian athletes who have lost their lives since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Union of Ukrainians of France organized a peaceful march in Paris on Saturday. The demonstration, which drew several hundred participants, occurred just before the start of this month’s Olympic Games and was intended to honor these fallen sports figures while shedding light on the lasting impact of the conflict on Ukraine’s athletic community.
Over the course of the full-scale invasion since 2022, several hundred athletes, some of whom competed at elite levels, coaches, and others closely associated with professional and amateur sports in Ukraine, have died. Some perished while serving as soldiers on the front lines.
These tragic losses, ongoing warfare, and the extensive destruction of sports facilities pose a threat to Ukraine’s competitive standing both at the imminent Paris Games, commencing on July 26, and in the years ahead, as a formidable presence in Olympic sports following the dissolution of the former Soviet Union.
Volodymyr Kogutyak, vice president of the French Ukrainian association, lamented the senseless killing of hundreds of Ukrainian athletes, preventing them from participating in the Paris Olympics. Some athletes were casualties while fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces, while others were slain as civilians.
The gathering paid tribute to athletes such as Maksym Halinichev, a talented boxer who was a silver medalist at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Halinichev, who joined the Ukrainian army, was killed in action at the age of 22. Ivan Bidnyak and Yehor Kikhitov, pistol shooters on the Ukrainian national team, and several other athletes were also remembered.
The event attracted a diverse group of participants, including Ukrainians, French nationals, and individuals from various backgrounds, all united in their sorrow and commitment to honor the memories of the deceased athletes. Attendees donned T-shirts bearing the names of the athletes who had passed away, and a moment of silence was observed, followed by speeches from organizers.
The demonstrators mentioned that these athletes were killed at a time when they could have been training for Olympic selection, underscoring the impact of Russia’s actions in denying them that opportunity. The demonstration also carried a political undertone, expressing opposition to the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Games.
The loss of these athletes not only deprives Ukraine of its current sports talents but also endangers its future in the world of international sports. The fallout from the war, along with the destruction of sports infrastructure in Ukraine, poses a significant challenge to the country’s sporting prospects.
The International Olympic Committee has restricted Russian athletes from attending the opening ceremony at the Olympics. The number of Russian athletes competing in the Paris Games, taking place from July 26 to August 11, remains uncertain.
