SPORT IS BASED ON VALUES SUCH AS SOLIDARITY AND EMPATHY
“After the outbreak of the war, Ukrainian athletes began to come to us, seeking respite and training opportunities in these difficult circumstances,” says Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Prof. Dr Tomasz Bielecki, who provided the athletes of the Ukrainian deaf judo team with shelter and the opportunity to prepare at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University's facilities for the XXIV Summer Deaflympics in Brazil.
“In late March and early April, I was approached to help prepare a training camp for the entire Ukrainian deaf judo team. They had access to training and wellness facilities, in a word: everything that athletes preparing for competitions need,” says Maria Curie-Skłodowska University professor Dr Tomasz Bielecki.
“A real friendship quickly developed between us. We received regular reports from the athletes about the Olympics. The Ukrainian team won a number of medals – mostly gold – in the individual competition, and won gold in the team competition, both men and women. They won the Games! For us it was also a great experience and we felt proud of our friends' success.”
Sport is an area of life based on values such as solidarity and empathy – the ability to empathise with others. It is extremely uplifting to see so many human reflexes, open hearts and love for another, needy and yet unknown human being in the midst of such a tragic situation, in the face of such great evil as war, in the face of the enormity of human misfortune. I hope that this goodness can overcome everything.
