Six women athletes from Ukraine will take part in the World Championships in Athletics starting in Belgrade.
On Friday Six Ukrainian women athletes who have survived the rest of the war to safety elsewhere in Europe will be seen at the World Championships in Athletics Hall in Serbia, Serbia.
One of them is the bronze medalist and reigning European champion in the Tokyo Olympic high jump Yaroslav Mahuchi ‘who told the European Athletics Federation website how he had to leave his home in the Dnipro three weeks ago.
“After hours of complete panic, we left our town and moved to a small village nearby,” Mahuchi said.
“No one thought about training when we had to spend the main season in the basement watching minute-by-minute news from Kiev, Sum and Kharkov.”
According to Mahuchi, the officials and coaches of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation managed to organize his trip to Belgrade together with the International Athletics Federation and the federations of Romania and Serbia.
“It took me more than three days to get here, it was a nerve-wracking journey. Hundreds of calls, many changes of direction, explosions, fires and air alarms. ”
“I’d like to think it was just a nightmare, but that’s the reality of any country in our country today. That is the reality of war. ”
According to Mahuchi, he is doing his own work for Ukraine.
“Today, all Ukrainians have different struggles.”
“We have to fight everywhere to show our strength and power. For the next few days, my battle front will be at the high jump site of the World Cup. ”
Athletics leaders do not expect any conflicts in the Games, which begin on Friday – despite the fact that the Games will be held in Serbia, where there are also supporters of the Russian offensive war. Serbia and Russia have historically had good relations. Russia also has influence in Serbia, as Russia’s oil and gas exports are vital to Serbia.
President of the International Federation of Athletics Sebastian Coen according to all the preparations suggest that the race is going well. 680 athletes from 137 countries play in the competition.
“Of course we encourage Ukrainian athletes, but equally we encourage all athletes, that’s how we work,” Coe told AFP.
“Athletics has historically been a sport where the fragility of the political landscape has been understood and accepted, but the sport has still been held in an equally collective way. I don’t expect any problems at the stadium. ”
“I’m sure sports will win in these races in the end.”
President of the Serbian Athletics Association Veselin Jevrosimovic said there have also been protests against the war in Serbia.
Athletes from Russia and Belarus are not allowed to participate in the competition.
Hallways The World Championships will be used to compete for medals for the first time in four years when no competitions have been held due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On the opening day of the Games, Finns will start their work on Friday Lotta Kemppinen 60 meters, Kristian Pulli long jump and Sara Kuivisto In the initial rounds of 1500 meters.
Yle Areena will be showing the competitions on Friday from 10.20.
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