New Ukrainian camp in France: sports and friendship transcending borders

From October 14 to 24, a sports camp was held in Lille, France, with the participation of young athletes from Odesa, Dnipro, Kyiv, Irpin, Hostomel, and Bucha — representatives of judo, athletics, basketball, and soccer.

This became possible thanks to France's hospitable partners and the synergy of the Olympic Dreams, Path of Champions, and Iron Squad projects. Among the participants were young footballers from Kyiv's “Lokomotiv”, whose stadium, like the Olympic College's base, was damaged during Russian shelling.

“These children are a symbol of our country's rebirth. Their courage and passion for sports prove that Ukraine is alive, competing, and winning — even in the most difficult times,” said Oleksiy Nikitenko, founder of the Path of Champions project and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Lille — the city that welcomed Ukraine

The young Ukrainians were met with a warm welcome in Lille, the sport capital of northern France. An athletics stadium was opened especially for the camp participants, where training sessions were conducted by international referees — the same ones who officiate at the Olympic Games.

One day, the children visited a local French school, where they studied with their peers, played soccer, and shared stories from Ukraine.

“We wanted these children to feel that the world is opening its doors to them. That sport is not just competition, but also a path to humanity, respect, and confidence in one's own abilities. I would like to make a special mention of the hospitality and care shown by our French partners, and personally thank Mr. Philippe Lamblin, Hauts-de-France Athletics League, as well as Serhiy Bubka, without whom this camp wouldn't have been possible,” emphasized Olena