On April 21, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal chaired a meeting of the Organizing Committee for Training and Participation of Ukrainian Athletes in the Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic Games, World Games in Non-Olympic Sports, World Martial Arts Games, World Universiades, Youth Olympic Games, European Games and holding international sports events in Ukraine.

The meeting was also attended by the President of the National Olympic Committee Serhii Bubka, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Youth and Sports Andrii Kozhemyakin and the President of the National Paralympic Committee Valerii Sushkevych.

The members of the Organizing Committee outlined the range of tasks to ensure proper preparation for the participation of Ukrainian athletes in prestigious international competitions. In particular, in the XXXII Olympic Games and the XVI Summer Paralympic Games, which will take place this year in Tokyo (Japan).

The Prime Minister stressed that physical culture and sports in Ukraine have the strong support of the President, the Verkhovna Rada and the Government, thus providing an opportunity to actively work on reforms in this area.

"We are well aware that high sports results cannot occur by chance. Solving the issues of social protection of athletes and coaches, providing them with the necessary equipment and gear, attracting the best specialists, solving living conditions step by step will bring us closer to success," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister stressed that Ukraine must maintain its high position in the world sports movement, so it must properly organize the work to prepare athletes for the Olympics.

During the meeting, the Minister of Youth and Sports Vadym Gutzayt reported on the preparations of the national teams of Ukraine for the XXXII Olympic Games and the XVI Summer Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. He noted that due to the postponement of the Games, the four-year training cycle of athletes has increased by one year and has been going on for five years.

"The state has created all the necessary conditions. We have fully secured funding, especially this year because we have a record budget. Necessary equipment and gear were purchased. We pay attention to nutrition and healthcare. At the initiative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the scholarships of the President of Ukraine for outstanding athletes and the scholarships of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for coaches have been doubled," Vadym Gutzayt said.

On the outcomes of the meeting of the Organizing Committee, the Prime Minister gave a number of commissions to ensure the proper level of training and participation of the national teams of Ukraine in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo.