In Lviv 223 athletes in 9 different sports took part in the All-Ukrainian ‘Invictus Games’. This is the selection for the international starts of the ‘Invictus Games’, which will be held this year in Dusseldorf (Germany).

Denys RYNSKYI, an event director of the Emily Resort recreation complex: “It is a great honour for us to host such an event of national significance. The founder of the football club ‘Ruh’ (Lviv) Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy always takes the maximum initiative and supports such events. Especially since ‘Invictus Games’ is a landmark phenomenon. We couldn’t stay away from it. Hence, Emily Resort with all its capabilities, all the resources of our infrastructure connected and helped in the implementation of this event. Our team has extensive experience in organising such events. On our part, we made sure that this event took place on our territory as comfortably and professionally as possible – from the point of view of accepting the athletes, conducting the sports part, their stay here and logistics. I believe that everything turned out at a high level.”

Invictus Games is an international sports competition for military men and veterans, who received injuries during their service.

In Lviv, athletes competed in archery, athletics, cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair basketball. According to the results of the competition, 24 athletes will be chosen to represent Ukraine in Dusseldorf in September. Their names will be announced in June.

Table tennis, wheelchair basketball and volleyball competitions were held at the Emily Resort sports complex. Accommodation and food for athletes and an event hall for the official events of the ‘Invictus Games’ were also provided here.

Denys RYNSKYI: “Over the course of three days, we had several events: the opening and closing ceremonies of the ‘Invictus Games’, as well as the sports part. Our sports arena played the biggest role because the hall is designed for dozens of Olympic sports by all standards. Also, in order to gather everyone and emphasise the importance of this event, our event hall became the best place. And I think we managed to organise everything well. The presence of such an ecosystem in one territory, like ours, amazes many organisers. That’s the idea – everything in one place in order to conveniently, quickly and efficiently conduct any events and not scatter your efforts on logistics, a trip around the city or some other complex processes. Everyone appreciated the high level of our location, the way we treated the organisation. In addition, we have a new hall, an infrastructure – everything is at the highest level.”

The ‘Invictus Games’ were started by the British Prince Harry in 2014. Ukraine performed for the first time at these competitions in 2017 in Toronto (Canada). In 2022, at the ‘Invictus Games’ in Hague (Netherlands), our team won 16 medals: 5 gold and silver, as well as 6 bronze.

Those who competed in Lviv at the Ukrainian ‘Invictus Games’, organised by the ‘Ruh’ football club, its founder Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy, and Emily Resort, have a chance to win prizes.

Anton NIKULIN, Head of the Sports Management of the Development Department of the Lviv City Council: “The sports component at the ‘Invictus Games’ recedes into the background. Rehabilitation by means of sports takes place here. Therefore, different people will go to international competitions – not necessarily the ones who showed the maximum sports result, but those who need it most to adapt to life. The Ukrainian team will include 24 people, and we will cheer for them directly at the competition in Dusseldorf.”

Yuliya LAPUTINA, Minister of Veteran Affairs of Ukraine: “There are people here who are our active servicemen, as well as veterans, including both men and women. They have been injured, and just overcoming yourself and entering into another type of activity, which is sports and physical activity, is already a victory over yourself.”

Oleksandr ‘TEREN’ BUDKO, a participant in the ‘Invictus Games’: “Everything here has a strong spirit of unity and teamplay, a very pleasant atmosphere, no competition is felt. That is why the spirit of the unconquered, which is present in all games, can be felt here.”

Yevhen OLEKSENKO, a participant of the ‘Invictus Games’: “You feel like at home, a homely friendly atmosphere. But all the same, competitiveness exists here, it’s very good when you compete among your own, win, and improve your results. It is always necessary for rehabilitation. Because in fact, even when I became disabled during the war in 2015, I regained part of my health precisely through competition. The games show that one should not lose spirit, one should take care of oneself. Even if you were discharged from the army, it does not mean that you should cross yourself out, being wounded is not a sentence.”

Andriy SADOVYI, a mayor of Lviv: “Several hundred mentally and physically strong girls and boys have come to Lviv and are competing for the right to represent Ukraine in Dusseldorf. It is our duty to help them because they give their lives for us. Therefore, the task of the city is to do, to set an example, so that other cities and communities do more and better.”