On January 22, in honor of Ukraine’s Unity Day, a sports forum was held that brought together professionals in the field to discuss key challenges and find solutions for the development of sports amid war and relocation.
The event began with the performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine and a minute of silence to honor the memory of fallen defenders and defenders of Ukraine.
The forum speakers included: Ihor Boiko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Volodymyr Mytsyk, Head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Regional State Administration; Ihor Anushkevych, Director of the Serhii Bubka Donetsk Regional Specialized Professional College of Sports; Oleksandr Honcharov, Director of the Regional Youth Sports School of Kickboxing; Kostiantyn Kirpulianskyi, Director of the Regional Comprehensive Youth Sports School; Kristina Rusinova, Director of the School of Higher Sports Mastery; Anton Didenko, Director of the Donetsk Regional Center of Sports Medicine; and Serhii Holovchenko, Director of the Donetsk Regional Center for Physical Health of the Population “Sport for All.”
“For all of us, Ukraine’s Unity Day is an extremely significant event in the conditions of war. Today it symbolizes not only the unity of territories, but also the unity of national consciousness and strength of spirit. Sport is precisely the factor that unites people and contributes to raising a healthy and strong new generation. Our athletes and coaches bring glory to Ukraine in international arenas, and we sincerely support them and wish them the highest results,” Ihor Boiko noted.
The Deputy Head of the Regional State Administration also presented students of the Serhii Bubka Donetsk Regional Sports College with the book “Donetsk Region – the Eastern Outpost of Ukraine,” which highlights the region’s historical events, and wished the youth perseverance in their studies and new sporting victories.
During the forum, participants addressed issues related to supporting sports in the Donetsk region under relocation, summed up the results of work in 2025, and outlined priorities for 2026 for the specialized college and youth sports schools. Special attention was paid to athlete preparation within the Olympic cycle, issues of sports medicine, and the development of mass sports.
For a wider audience, an online broadcast was organized on the Facebook page of the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, allowing community representatives, members of the sports community, and all interested parties to join the forum. Video recordings of the event are available at the following links:
www.facebook.com/sportdonoda/videos/2175782319923853
www.facebook.com/sportdonoda/videos/1582012326332698
Sport in the Donetsk region continues to live and develop despite all challenges—thanks to people, teamwork, and a clear focus on supporting athletes and ensuring access to physical activity for communities.