Sports for the reintegration of defenders: inclusive competitions among military and veterans held in Cherkasy
Kyiv • UNN
112 veterans and military personnel competed in four sports as part of the inclusive Victory of the Unconquered competition. The event was supported by MHP to reintegrate the defenders and help them adapt to civilian life.
The inclusive competition “Victory of the Unconquered” was held in Cherkasy. 112 war veterans and military personnel from all over Ukraine competed in four sports: bench press, rowing on a simulator, air bike and kettlebell snatch.
The sporting event was supported by MHP together with the NGO Strongman Federation of Ukraine as part of the MHP Next door program for the reintegration of military and veterans.
Veteran Yevhen Rudenko from Kaniv, Cherkasy region, was among the first to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion. In April 2014, as a member of the 80th Lviv Air Assault Brigade, he liberated Sloviansk and Kramatorsk in Donetsk region. He held the defense in the Luhansk sector - in Lysychansk, Shchastia, Stanytsia Luhanska. After being seriously wounded, he lost his right arm. He underwent extensive treatment. Sports, which Yevhen has been involved in since his youth, contributed to his rehabilitation.
“The atmosphere here is friendly, there are a lot of guys like me who went through the same thing as me. Sport is one of the best methods of rehabilitation when a person does not know what to do after the war, it really saves them. I know this from my own experience. For two years after my injury, I just lived in hospitals. And then I gradually went back to school, to work, started a family, and recently had a daughter. I have completely rebuilt my life. Those who have just returned from the war and have not yet found themselves in society need to be helped and supported. Sport can really help with this,” says veteran Yevhen Rudenko .
Veteran Yuriy Yaremenko participated in the Victory of the Unconquered competition for the second time.
“In Ternopil, I participated in only one of the disciplines, the kettlebell snatch, because I didn't know how everything works. In Cherkasy, I will compete in two events: the kettlebell snatch and rowing. I believe that such competitions are necessary, because I know from experience that many veterans find it difficult to return to civilian life. Sport really helps both morally and physically. And at such events you can meet many new nice people,” says veteran Yuriy Yaremenko.
According to the participants, such events are also important for supporting their families.
“I can see how happy my wife is that I didn't give up and am looking for myself. She and the children are by my side. They support and inspire me. For me, participating in competitions means rehabilitation, brotherhood and understanding. You are in your own environment among people with whom you feel comfortable,” says Oleksandr Nosenko, a veteran from Cherkasy.
The main judge of the competition in Cherkasy was world strongman champion Vasyl Virastiuk.
Serhiy Konyushok, president of the Strongman Federation of Ukraine:
“We are gradually moving away from the model of organizing competitions in Kyiv or other base cities. We want to reach as many veterans as possible, so we compete every two weeks in a new region. This is how we develop the system of sports rehabilitation for veterans. We have certain regional centers of the sports veterans' movement.”
According to the organizers, veteran brotherhood and sports help them return to a full life. At the same time, they adapt society to the needs of veterans.
Tetiana Volochai, Head of the Community Development Council of the MHP for Communities Charitable Foundation:
“We help veterans who have returned from the combat zone, as well as the families of the dead and missing. We encourage them to practice adapted sports. In particular, sport helps to rehabilitate our soldiers and return them to civilian life. Active training boosts the guys' spirits and helps them believe in themselves. There is also a point here - we are adapting our society. We organize competitions in densely populated communities so that people do not look away in shame when they meet a veteran.”
Oleksandr Voskoboinik, director of MHP-Urozhay, an agricultural enterprise:
“Our company supports veterans' sports as part of the MHP Poruch (MHP Next Door) program for the reintegration of defenders and veterans. It is a great honor for me to be involved in the competition in Cherkasy. Here at the local level, we are actively working to improve the health of veterans in communities, their reintegration and social adaptation. We help them receive both legal and psychological services and provide full medical support. We also support the development of adaptive sports. I am confident that these competitions will give an impetus to action and provide extraordinary moral support to veterans from Cherkasy region and all over Ukraine.”
The military and veterans who won prizes in their respective sports and 60 categories received medals and gifts. The winners will compete for the right to represent Ukraine in the national team at the international integrated adaptive sports competitions “Strong Spirit's Games”, which will be held in October 2024 as part of the Arnold Classic Europe sports festival in Madrid.
