📋 Tender Overview
T.v. at. The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Matvii Bidnyi, took part in the podcast of the Countering Disinformation Center, where he talked about the results of Ukraine's participation in the 2024 Olympic Games and the role of sports diplomacy.
Matvyi Bidny noted that the participation of Ukrainian athletes in the Olympics was not only a sports competition, but also an important element of the struggle for Ukrainian identity on the international stage. "The main goal is to show that Ukraine is standing, Ukraine is fighting and Ukraine is capable of winning, both on the battlefield and on the sports fields," he emphasized.
The head of the Ministry paid special attention to the work of the Ukrainian house Volia Space in Paris, which has become a powerful media hub for Ukrainian athletes and spreading the truth about the war in Ukraine.
"We secured accreditation for more than 600 journalists, two-thirds of which are international publications. Every day we received from 100 to 150 original texts in Ukrainian and international mass media, which had a reach of 5 to 7 million views. We now have a total reach of over 105 million people who have read our content. Two-thirds of them are abroad," noted Matviy Bidny
Volia Space was created as a special platform for communication with international media, where athletes could speak freely. "This is one of the most successful projects in which I had the honor to participate, and it worked 100%," the head of the Ministry of Youth Sports summarized.
He also shared details about the preparation of the Ukrainian Olympic team. He emphasized that the team was provided with everything necessary for successful training, including the latest equipment. "For example, we bought a special set of equipment for our gymnasts, identical to the one used at the competition in Paris. This made it possible for our athletes to train in conditions as close as possible to competitive conditions," he noted. "All the necessary resources — from equipment to training sessions — were provided in full," Matviy Bidny emphasized. He also noted that this is the result of the systematic work of the Ministry, which is aimed at providing our athletes with everything necessary for training.
The podcast also discussed the importance of sports diplomacy and the work of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions. "there were ten times less Russians at the Games than Ukrainians. It is very important to note that these were "anonymous Russians" under neutral flags, and this is our joint victory. It is important that the flag of Russia was banned, that this flag is covered with shame and is banned in all the territories of the Olympic Games," said Matviy Bidny. He added that at the last Games there were more than 330 participants from Russia, and this time - only 15-16 neutral athletes, who in the end no one even noticed. "I believe that this is our great victory, which we must develop," the government official emphasized.
In addition to the topic of the Olympics, Matviy Bidny also spoke about the concept of reforming the sports sphere. He emphasized the importance of the transition to the club system, which is the basis for the development of sports throughout the civilized world.
"The club system is based on democratic principles, where citizens themselves choose who will train their children and how the club's resources will be spent," he noted. Within this system, each sports club is a member of a federation that unites similar clubs and represents their interests at the national level.
Matviy Bidny emphasized that the state, by delegating powers to the federations, will be able to use resources more efficiently. "This will ensure transparency, accountability and increase the effectiveness of sports management," he emphasized.
In conclusion, Matvyi Bidniy emphasized the importance of preserving Ukrainian identity among young people who found temporary shelter abroad.
