WE PROVIDED UKRAINIAN SWIMMERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN
From the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the Sport Club Olimpia Lublin got involved in help by accepting young swimmers into the ranks of its team. After a few days, the city of Lublin joined in these activities.
“The young Ukrainian athletes had emigrated to various European countries, but they wanted to train as close to home as possible, because this allowed their parents, who had stayed in their homeland, to visit them,” says Sławomir Pliszka, president of KS ‘Olimpia’ Lublin. “As soon as Russia invaded Ukraine, the inhabitants of our city, including the entire sports community, enthusiastically started to help. We Poles, not only sportsmen, follow the rule: ‘guest at home, God at home’. This is how we were raised.”
The city of Lublin coordinated the aid effort. Ukrainian athletes were provided not only with training opportunities, but also accommodation, food and access to education. UNICEF also helped a great deal, providing funds through the Lublin Municipality to purchase equipment. I had earlier provided them with the necessary equipment myself, as they had nothing. Training and competition swimsuits were purchased, as well as training equipment such as paws, fins and boards. We do this free of charge – the word “thank you” is enough.
