Ukraine and the United Kingdom intensify cooperation in sports on the eve of the Olympics

Acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvii Bidnyi met with Stuart Andrew, Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society, and Minister for Equalities. The parties discussed joint work to suspend representatives of russia and belarus from international competitions, support for Ukrainian athletes and further cooperation between the two countries on the eve of the Olympic Games.

Matvii Bidnyi thanked his British counterpart for the tireless support provided by the UK to Ukraine: "We highly appreciate your help from the very first days of the full-scale invasion. Your support for our athletes is extremely important to us," he said.

For his part, Stuart Andrew assured of unwavering support for Ukraine: "We are absolutely with you. This aggression is unacceptable, and we are united in supporting your freedom and independence."

One of the key points of the conversation was the discussion of the participation of russian and belarusian athletes in international competitions. Matvii Bidnyi emphasized: "Today, no one russian athlete can be considered neutral. We have a list of over 800 people who directly support the war."

In response, Stuart Andrew noted that the UK is actively promoting the ban on the participation of these athletes in the Olympics, especially those who support the war or are involved in paramilitary groups.

Finally, the parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in the sports sphere and expressed their hope to meet in Paris during the Olympic Games.

This meeting emphasizes the importance of international solidarity and cooperation in sports against the backdrop of ongoing russian aggression and preparations for the world's largest sporting events.