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Olympic Dreams as a Platform for Supporting Young Ukrainian Athletes: Oleksandra Starkova's Speech at the International Conference

The II International Scientific and Practical Conference "Sport: History and Modernity" took place at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Oleksandra Starkova, the Secretary General of the Olympic Dreams international sports camps project, Honored Coach of Ukraine in judo, and International Master of Sports of Ukraine, participated in the event.

In her speech, Oleksandra presented Olympic Dreams as an example of sports diplomacy in action. For over three years, the project has been supporting young Ukrainian athletes during a challenging time for the country when the war has destroyed sports infrastructure and forced many children to leave their homes. Olympic Dreams helps talented young athletes maintain a continuous training process by organizing training camps in safe conditions in friendly countries.
The project is implemented with the support of the "The Future for Children" Charitable Foundation. Today, Olympic Dreams collaborates with international sports federations, national Olympic committees, relevant ministries, and charitable organizations. Ukrainian embassies in host countries play a significant role, assisting with organizational matters, facilitating contacts with local sports communities, and attracting additional support for our athletes. Interaction with professional diplomats enables Olympic Dreams to expand opportunities for Ukrainian athletes to participate in international events and cultural initiatives.
"In addition to sports training, an important mission of Olympic Dreams is to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture. While abroad, our athletes carry the cultural code of the Ukrainian nation to the world, sharing its traditions, history, and unbreakable spirit," Starkova noted.
One of the key elements of this cultural component was the film "Espoirs" by French documentary filmmakers, featuring young athlete Anastasiia Chyzhevska, a European Judo Cup champion, three-time Ukrainian champion, and International Master of Sports of Ukraine. Another significant step in integrating sports diplomacy and cultural missions was the Ukrainian House VOLIA SPACE project in France during the Summer Olympics, actively supported by the Olympic Dreams team.
"Olympic Dreams is not just an opportunity for young athletes to continue training; it is a contribution to the future of Ukrainian sports. We believe that through sports diplomacy, international community support, and the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian athletes, we will preserve and strengthen Ukraine's Olympic reserve," concluded Oleksandra Starkova.
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