At Artek, more than 1,000 children got to try 20 sports alongside Olympic athletes

Nationwide DoLikeOlympians initiative

According to НОК: Kyiv's International Children's Center Artek hosted the main event of the all-Ukrainian DoLikeOlympians project on 28 August. Organized by the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, the gathering brought together over 1,000 young participants from across the country, who could sample more than 20 sporting disciplines. The initiative aims to make elite-level sport familiar and accessible to young people. The program included:

• dance sport
• table tennis
• boxing
• rowing
• badminton
• modern pentathlon
• fencing
• hockey
• athletics
• and more

Honored guests and coaching clinics

The event was attended by Vadym Guttsait, President of the NOC of Ukraine; Serhiy Kapustin, Director General of the Artek International Children's Center; and Pavlo Kostenko, head of the NOC's Kyiv city branch. Children also had a rare chance to take part in master classes led by Olympic champions and medalists, Olympic participants, and world and European title winners. Among these elite athletes were Olena Pidhrushna, Nataliia Dovhodko, Iryna Koliadenko, Olena Pakholchyk, Svitlana Mazii, Khrystyna Stui, and many others.

The occasion marked an important step in encouraging Ukrainian youth to take up sports. Project partners and sponsors included 4F, United Global Logistics, Resource Storage, Institute of Psychology and Entrepreneurship, Perets FM, Tsyfra, and Champion Radio. DoLikeOlympians showed how athletics can bring children together and inspire them to lead active lives.

The DoLikeOlympians event highlights the importance of getting young people involved in sport and physical activity, a message that is especially relevant in today's environment.

Practicing different disciplines and working with celebrated athletes gives children a unique experience and strong motivation to stay in sports. Similar initiatives could have a lasting impact on how Ukrainian youth embrace healthy lifestyles.

The enthusiasm for sports among young Ukrainians is clearly on the rise, as seen in another recent event where young athletes from the Zhytomyr region showcased their talents at the All-Ukrainian School Leagues. Their impressive performances have earned them a trip to Zakarpattia, further highlighting the growing opportunities for youth engagement in sports across the country. To learn more about how these young athletes are making their mark, check out the details in this related article.