December 28, (THEWILL) – Vadym Huttsait, Ukraine’s Sports Minister, has announced the country’s desire to bid for both the 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games and the 2030 Winter Olympics.
An Olympic fencing champion himself, Huttsait announced Ukraine’s ambitions to host the two major multi-sport events over the next nine years, saying that “we are entering the fight for the Olympic Games”
Ukraine had previously indicated interest in hosting a future Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating in September that talks with the International Olympic Committee had begun (IOC).
During an in-person meeting with IOC President Thomas Bach, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was “determined” to host a Winter Olympic Games.
Huttsait, who won gold in team sabre at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, has now announced that Ukraine wants to host both the Winter Youth Olympics and the Winter Olympics in 2028.
Huttsait declared Ukraine’s desire to grow in winter sports and to host future Olympics in a recent interview where he said: “Today the most powerful infrastructure development in the entire history of Ukraine’s independence is underway,” said Huttsait.
“Why do we perform at a level in individual winter sports, while the rest are not developed? Because we have nowhere to train. And training abroad is very expensive.
“And now the President has set a task… we are entering the fight for the Olympic Games in Ukraine.”
Huttsait’s response, when asked which editions of the Games Ukraine planned to bid for, was direct: “Youth in 2028 and Winter Olympics in 2030.”
Why are we doing this? Well, first of all the country’s prestige. Hosting the Olympic Games in the country means attracting powerful investors, new infrastructure, new sports infrastructure.
“We understand that the more sports infrastructure there will be, the more where children will come to study. We will not see the result today or tomorrow. But what is being laid in the country today in terms of the sports infrastructure, we will see the result in 10 years, do you understand?”
In September, Bach paid a visit to Kiev, Ukraine’s capital, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the country’s National Olympic Committee.
Bach praised Ukraine’s hosting ambitions in a joint statement made by the Ukrainian President and the International Olympic Committee, highlighting the “great sports tradition of Ukraine.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
