Ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a display has been
unveiled in Parliament Square to honour the lives lost from
within the Ukrainian sporting community and to highlight the
devastating consequences of the war in Ukraine.
Since Russia's barbaric full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022,
the conflict has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent
Ukrainians, including 487 athletes. More than 4,000 athletes are
still actively supporting the war effort.
Unveiled today in Parliament Square, the new 3D display brings to
life the harrowing ‘487' figure – though the true number is
likely to be even higher. Surrounding the display, sporting
equipment representing the disciplines of some of the 487 fallen
athletes offers a stark reminder of the war's devastating toll.
With only 140 athletes from Ukraine competing at this year's
Olympic Games in Paris, this marks the smallest representation
ever in Ukraine's summer Olympic history.
Among the athletes killed by Russian forces are Oleksandr
Pielieshenko, who competed in weightlifting at the Rio 2016
Olympics and died defending his country in May this year. Other
casualties include promising young athletes like 11-year-old
rhythmic gymnast Kateryna Diachenko, whose life was cut short by
a Russian attack on her hometown of Mariupol at the onset of the
war on 12 March 2022.
Foreign Secretary said:
“As the world gathers this summer to celebrate the very best
of sporting talent, we must pause to remember the hundreds of
Ukrainian athletes who are no longer with us or can no longer
take part due to the war.
“We are drawing attention to the harrowing real life stories
behind the 487 statistic to pay tribute to the fallen athletes as
a timely reminder of this government's iron-clad support for
Ukraine and its people. We must support Ukraine's fight for
freedom.
“The defence of Europe begins in Ukraine and the outcome is
down to our collective will. Now is the time to double down on
our support so Ukraine not only wins the war, but can forge the
bright and ambitious future that Ukrainians deserve”.
Heorhii Tykhyi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Ukraine,
said:
"Every Ukrainian athlete at the Olympics represents the
Ukrainian will to win, Volia. By acting swiftly and with united
efforts, the prospect of a world where Ukrainian athletes and
citizens are free from the threats posed by Russia will be a
reality."
The display comes just days after the Prime Minister hosted
President Zelenskyy at Downing Street last week after the
European Political Community summit. President Zelenskyy also met
the Defence and Business Secretaries where they discussed the
need for more cooperation and the need to boost industrial
production for Ukraine.
The UK's commitment to support Ukraine to resist Russian
aggression is iron-clad. The Prime Minister announced his
commitment to £3 billion a year of military support for Ukraine
for as long as it takes. In total, the UK has committed almost
£12.7bn in military, humanitarian, and economic support for
Ukraine since February 2022.
Current and former Olympic athletes and coaches worldwide have
also united in solidarity with Ukraine in light of the 487
figure, sharing their hopes for Ukraine to receive the support it
needs to win.
This includes Sasha Cohen, former Ukrainian-American Olympic
figure skater, Oksana Masters, Ukrainian-American Paralympic
athlete, German Biathlete Jens Steinigen and coach Wolfgang
Pichler, and former Ukrainian Olympic wrestler Oksana
Rakhra.
Sasha Cohen, former Ukrainian-American figure skater,
said:
“I've always believed in the power of sport to unite and
inspire. But today, I'm not just speaking as an athlete. I'm
speaking as the daughter of a Ukrainian immigrant, my mother,
Galina. I've grown up with stories of Ukraine, our culture, our
people, and their resilience. Today, I stand in awe of the
Ukrainian athletes participating in the Olympics and think of
those who we are missing and have been lost to the war. Their
courage, strength and determination embodies the spirit of my
mother's homeland and I stand with them in solidarity. Together,
we can show the world the power of unity in sport.”
