Zelensky: I'm sure Ukraine deserves to host Olympic Games

KYIV. Sept 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that sport has become a strategic direction of the state, and also expressed confidence that Ukraine is ready to host the Olympics.

"In Ukraine, programs are being implemented that will create the necessary sports infrastructure and decent conditions for the training and preparation of Ukrainian athletes," the President of Ukraine said during the festive events on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the creation of the National Olympic Committee, which took place at the Ukraine National Palace of Arts on Saturday.

The head of state said that some Olympic champions who won medals and represented the Ukrainian national team were forced to leave their homeland due to the state’s negligent attitude towards athletes.

"I really wanted to change this. I wanted Ukrainian athletes to always feel on the podium, and not only three minutes every four years. So that no one has the right to organize the hate campaigns against them on social networks. So that they feel respect," Zelensky said.

The President said that it is necessary to create adequate conditions for having future Ukrainian champions. "Therefore, we have started to renovate and build the sports infrastructure. First of all, for children. This is very important, because love for sports should be nurtured since childhood," the head of state said.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine plans the reconstruction and construction of 18 sports boarding schools for children, as well as a sports boarding school for orphans, 100 children’s and youth sports schools, school stadiums and swimming pools.

"We have started the Healthy Ukraine program. I am proud of this program. It provides for the construction of 2,000 parks for activities in Ukraine, 10,000 sports grounds, 19 ice arenas throughout the country, 100 stadiums and 25 sports ‘magnets,’" the President said.

In addition, the Healthy Ukraine program envisages the construction of multifunctional complexes in each region capable of hosting world-class competitions.

The head of state recalled that today, together with IOC President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, he opened an urban park in Kyiv. Similar sports grounds will be built in other cities of Ukraine.

"We have made the sport a strategic direction of the state," he said.

Zelensky also said that he dreams of holding the Olympics in Ukraine. "I am confident that our great state deserves to host the Olympic Games," he said. The head of state added that holding the Olympics in Ukraine is not an easy task.