European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen, accompanied by European Athletics Council members Gregor Benčina and Márton Gyulai, met the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman, Ukrainian Athletics Federation President Ihor Hotsul and IAAF Vice President Sergey Bubka on Wednesday at the start of their three-day visit to the country.
Prime Minister Groysman expressed his desire that Ukraine would be the host of more international athletics events in the future, a suggestion that was warmly appreciated the European Athletics delegation.
Groysman added that the organisation of international sports events in Ukraine priority in Ukraine’s parliamentary programme and new budget measures should help to develop sports in Ukraine’s regions as well as contribute towards the construction and renovation of sports facilities across the country.
“European Athletics is ready to reciprocate and assist as well,” said Hansen.
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“We will be presenting the relevant authorities in Ukraine with a list of competitions which, potentially, could be taken place in Ukraine.
“Further discussions can take place after that and I’m sure both Ukraine and European Athletics will do their best to realize everyone’s ambitions and dreams.
“I am also very pleased to see how much progress there has been in the area of anti-doping reform in Ukraine, especially the new Anti-Doping Law. There is still much more work to be done but European Athletics will do everything it can to support Ukrainian organisations in this respect,” added Hansen.
President Hansen and Prime Minister Groysman also exchanged gifts in recognition of the warm and burgeoning relationship between European Athletics and Ukraine’s sporting and political bodies.
On Thursday and Friday, the European Athletics delegation visited Lutsk where a five-nation international U20 match was being held.