Veteran Sports: Ukrainian Team at International Competitions
The Ukrainian national team of veterans and veteran women will participate in the annual international sports competitions dedicated to wounded service members and veterans of the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps.
The competitions will take place from February 20 to March 3, providing an opportunity for Ukrainian athletes to showcase their abilities on an international stage.
Air Force and Marine Corps Trials are critical qualifying competitions in the U.S., whose results influence the formation of teams for the Warrior Games—competitions featuring representatives from the Army, Special Operations Forces, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
While Ukrainian athletes will not participate in the selection for the Warrior Games, they are invited as an international team to enhance the diversity of the competitions and share experiences in the field of veteran sports. In addition to Ukraine, teams from Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom are also participating. The Ukrainian team consists of 15 athletes competing in 11 sports.
Among the team is a representative from Odesa – veteran Valerii Stalnychenko. He will compete in basketball, rugby, volleyball, and archery.
The format of the competitions is based on adaptive sports principles, ensuring safe and fair conditions for all participants, especially for wounded service members and veteran women.
The competitions are held annually at different U.S. military bases, and in 2024, the Ukrainian team already participated in the trials in Las Vegas, which marked an important milestone in the development of our team.
Athletes compete in the following disciplines:
- wheelchair basketball,
- wheelchair rugby,
- archery,
- rowing on a machine,
- track and field,
- powerlifting,
- cycling,
- swimming,
- rifle shooting—a new and particularly interesting discipline for our team.
Such competitions contribute to the development of veteran sports as a vital support system, respecting the experiences and strength of those who defended Ukraine.
The formation and preparation of the Ukrainian team is carried out by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine in collaboration with the initiative center “Come Back Alive” as part of the implementation of the veteran policy strategy.
