Ukraine has great potential forreturn of international sports to the country after the war – Ukrainian sports minister Bidny

Ukraine's Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny has said that he believes that if Ukraine does not seize the moment and does not become the center of world attention after the war, including in sports, it will be a huge mistake.

"It all depends on us, but I am convinced that Ukraine is interesting to everyone in the world today. As soon as the conditions are created, as soon as we can provide sports facilities and logistics, I am convinced that this will become a place where everyone will want to come. Because today so much attention in the world is concentrated around Ukraine's struggle for its future that if we do not seize it and do not become the center of world attention after the war, including in sports, it will be our very huge mistake," Bidny said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering the question of how quickly international sports will be able to return to Ukraine after the war.

As for which international championships Ukraine would like to host after the war, the minister noted that the Olympic Games are a very complicated story that is almost never self-sustaining.

"I think we need to start by restoring the infrastructure in our communities so that our children, our citizens can play sports, take care of themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle. This is goal No. 1. Let's be realistic - attracting international competitions is a separate area of work that requires systematicity. And here we need to start with cup competitions, perhaps with some junior international starts, to develop our sports infrastructure," he added.

According to him, currently several sports facilities, which, fortunately, were not very badly damaged, are ready to host international competitions today.

"Therefore,