On November 16, 2022, the XXXVII General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee took place, which elected the new composition of this organization. Unfortunately, after summarizing the results of the voting, it turned out that the new members of the National Olympic Committee did not include athletes who fought back against the Russian aggressor with weapons in their hands.
Hryhoriy SurkisThe Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Youth and Sports Issues considers this unacceptable in the circumstances when more than 130 athletes died defending the Ukrainian state.
Therefore, with the aim of correcting this mistake, which is disrespectful to the defenders of Ukraine, the Chairman of the Committee Andriy Kozhemyakin and Secretary of the Committee Hryhoriy Surkis, decided to hand over their seats in the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine to athletes who are on the front line defending the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Andrii Kozhemyakin proposes to elect to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine the commander of the platoon of the assault troops of the Nth brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, lieutenant Petro Vasyliovych, who is currently on the front line, instead of him. Petro Nagornyi is a master of sports in Greco-Roman wrestling, a judge of the international category, deputy head of the Youth and Sports Department of the Rivne Regional Military Administration.
Hryhoriy Surkis proposes to elect Oleksiy Volodymyrovych Nikitenko, colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine, master of sports of Ukraine, honored coach of hand-to-hand combat of Ukraine, who has been on the front lines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since March of this year, to the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. Oleksiy Nikitenko worked in the special units of the SBU, and at the same time defended the honor of Ukraine as part of the national team at the Invincible Games.
The Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Youth and Sports Issues is sure that the presence of war veteran athletes in the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine will increase the attention of the Ukrainian Olympic community to the problems of the defenders of Ukraine, primarily contribute to their social rehabilitation, and also strengthen support for the sports of war veterans.
