1000 days of invincibility: how war changed Ukraine's sports infrastructure – photos
Today, 19 November 2024, marks 1,000 days since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This date is a testament not only just to Ukrainian people's invincibility, but also the tremendous losses that were endured. Sports infrastructure took one of the hardest blows.
Source: Champion, a sports news platform within Ukrainska Pravda’s holding company
Details: According to the official data from the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the military action has had more than 500 sports facilities destroyed or damaged. Among them:
- 77 stadiums;
- 52 sports complexes;
- 102 sports bases and schools;
- 174 gyms;
- 15 pools;
- 6 ice arenas;
- 5 yacht clubs;
- 3 shooting galleries;
- 2 bases for cycling;
- one base for equestrian sports and biathlon.
The regions located in the zone of active hostilities have been the most affected. Kharkiv Oblast lost 163 objects of infrastructure, Luhansk Oblast 95, and Donetsk Oblast 72. 79 sports facilities were damaged in Kherson Oblast. Significant losses also occurred in Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
The head of the National Olympic Committee Vadym Huttsait recently said something that shows Ukrainian resilience and dedication.
Quote from Huttsait: "The enemy destroys our sports complexes, stadiums and palaces, but will not destroy Ukrainian sports and our fortitude!"
These 1,000 days have become a test for all Ukrainians. However, the country continues to rebuild what has been destroyed, construct new facilities, and fight for its future. Sport, as a sign of fortitude, will continue to encourage them to succeed.
Every destroyed stadium or gym is more than just a building; it represents a missed potential for thousands of Ukrainians to train, dream and win. But the Ukrainian nation will undoubtedly rebuild everything and do more than ever!
