89 athletes and coaches killed in the war since 24 February Zelenskyy

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO – SUNDAY, 3 JULY 2022, 21:45

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine, 89 athletes and coaches have been killed in Ukraine. Another 13 have been captured by Russia.

Source: Ukrinform, citing Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, during a meeting with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Many Ukrainian athletes have joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend our country, to defend it on the battlefield. Eighty nine athletes and coaches have been killed during hostilities. Another 13 have been captured and are held as prisoners of war in Russia."

Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that over 100,000 athletes are currently unable to train and that a number of sports facilities across Ukraine have been destroyed.

Thomas Bach, in turn, said that the IOC will increase the budget of the fund designed to support Ukrainian athletes from $2.5 million to $7.5 million. The Committee is currently supporting 3,000 Ukrainian athletes.

Bach also said that the IOC sees no grounds to lift the sanctions imposed on Russian and Belarusian athletes and will continue to ban them from taking part in international competitions.

"Our position regarding the banning of Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions remains the same; this recommendation will not be revoked," he said.