Olympic Dreams in Japan: results of three years of cooperation and of the 5th judo camp
2025-10-22 10:28
The 28th Olympic Dreams international training camp, the fifth to be held in Japan, went on for almost a month. Young Ukrainian judokas took part in the camp — members of the Ukrainian national team and Olympic reserve athletes who keep training even during the war.
The training camp was held in three prefectures: in Tokyo, at the legendary Kodokan Judo Institute, where in 1882 master Jigoro Kano founded modern judo; at Tokai University and Tenri University in Tenri (Nara Prefecture), and at the National Training Center in Shizuoka Prefecture.
The program included training with leading Japanese sensei and Olympic champions, exchange of experience at leading educational institutions in Japan, master classes in calligraphy, and visits to cultural monuments and national shrines.
The project team was personally invited to an official meeting with the Japan Sports Agency, headed by its Director General Momii Keiko
On Anatoliy Boyko's personal initiative, camp participants also had the opportunity to visit the Ukrainian pavilion “Not For Sale” at the World Expo 2025 Osaka, where Ukraine represented values such as freedom, dignity, life, and independence. For the athletes, this served as a reminder of why they train — to glorify Ukraine on the world stage.
In the Ukrainian pavilion “Not For Sale” at the World Expo 2025 Osaka
Sport as a language of diplomacy
Traditionally, the results of the large training camp were announced at the All Japan Judo Federation with the participation of its vice president Soya Nakazato, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Yuriy Lutovinov, and patron of the Olympic Dreams project Anatoliy Boyko.
“Olympic Dreams has become a vivid example of how sport becomes a language of diplomacy. Our young judokas are Ukraine's ambassadors in the world of sport, demonstrating the strength of spirit, perseverance, and resilience of our nation. We are sincerely grateful to Japan for their friendship, partnership, and the honor of training in the places where the history of judo began,” said Yuriy Lutovinov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Japan.
Initiator and patron of Olympic Dreams Anatoliy Boyko and Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Yuriy Lutovinov at the Kodokan Judo Institute
A special gift from Ukraine was the presentation of a 3D project of the monument to Jigoro Kano “Hajime” and its miniature in gold plating to the All Japan Judo Federation (AJJF).
Secretary General of Olympic Dreams Oleksandra Starkova, Vice President of AJJF Soya Nakazato, patron of Olympic Dreams Anatoliy Boyko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Yuriy Lutovinov, CEO of Olympic Dreams Oleksandra Novikova
The sculpture was created by Ukrainian artist Serhiy Boldov, who practiced judo himself and created the project in honor of the 165th anniversary of the birth of the founder of this martial art. The gift symbolizes the gratitude of the Ukrainian people for their support and respect for shared values.
International cooperation and Ukraine's future in the field of sports
The Olympic Dreams project has become an important element of systematic efforts to preserve Ukraine's sporting potential during the war. It is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Judo Federation, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, and foreign partners.
Secretary General of Olympic Dreams Oleksandra Starkova, Technical Director of the project Karen Balayan, patron of Olympic Dreams Anatoliy Boyko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan Yuriy Lutovinov, CEO of Olympic Dreams Oleksandra Novikova
“Supporting Japan through sports is an important factor in strengthening Ukraine's position on the international stage. Thanks to cooperation with foreign partners, our young athletes have the opportunity to train in safe conditions, learn from the best, and prepare for future competitions. Such initiatives are not only an investment in the development of the Olympic reserve, but also a real contribution to enhancing Ukraine's authority in the world,” said Oleksiy Nikitenko, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
Unity among federations — the path to new victories
The joint work of the Ukrainian and Japanese judo federations is not only a sporting collaboration, but also a cultural one, deepening mutual understanding between the countries.
Mykhailo Koshlyak, President of the Ukrainian Judo Federation, said: “The participation of Ukrainian athletes in training in Japan is not only about developing their skills, but also about learning the values that are the foundation of judo: respect, mutual assistance, and self-improvement. We are sincerely grateful to our partners at the All Japan Judo Federation for their support, openness, and sincere attitude toward the Ukrainian team, as well as to the Olympic Dreams project for its significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between our federations and friendly relations between Ukraine and Japan.”
Olympic Dreams — a system that creates winners
The project has been implemented since 2022 by the “Future for Children Charitable Foundation” and has already brought together dozens of countries, hundreds of coaches, and thousands of athletes. Its main goal is to give Ukrainian children the opportunity to train in safe conditions and not lose faith in their future.
Thus, right after this trip, the sixth training camp for Ukrainian athletes in Japan is already planned for December 2025.
Oleksandra Starkova, Oleksandra Novikova, Yuriy Lutovinov, Soya Nakazato, Anatoliy Boyko, Karen Balayan, and Olympic Dreams athletes in the All Japan Judo Federation
"Our project has been existing for over three years and is represented in 12 countries around the world, but Japan has a special place — not only in the project, but also in our hearts. We feel the support of our Japanese friends, their strong shoulder, which they lend to Ukrainian judo in difficult times," emphasized the initiator and patron of the project, Anatoliy Boyko. “Our athletes have the opportunity to train side by side with Japanese athletes, learning from them wisdom, good manners, discipline, and self-confidence, which translates into real sporting results — and at the same time, they share a part of Ukrainian culture with them.”
Men's training session of the Ukrainian team at Adachi Gakuen School (Tokyo, Japan) with the participation of Anatoliy Boyko
The organizers express their sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the camp: All Japan Judo Federation, Japan Sports Agency, Japan Olympic Committee, Embassy of Ukraine in Japan, Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Judo Federation of Ukraine, “Future for Children Charitable Foundation”, the project team, and its initiator Anatoliy Boyko.