Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vadym Gutzeit says that Ukraine is counting on and working to host the Summer and Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2030 and 2032.
“We are not considering the Summer Olympics yet. We are counting on and working on the Winter Youth Olympics, Summer Youth Olympics and Winter Olympics: these are 2030 and 2032,” Gutzeit said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
When asked whether the estimates for the budget and the necessary infrastructure facilities are already ready in the context of the possible holding of the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Ukraine, the minister noted that they could be held in Western Ukraine, in particular in Bukovel, and also involve some other cities, but calculations have not been made yet.
“And above all, now we are talking about the Youth Olympic Games as test ones. This is a smaller budget and not as difficult as the adult Olympic Games. They can be held in Kyiv, because the infrastructure allows,” he added.
In addition, the minister is confident that Ukraine will be able to independently host the Big Winter Olympics.
“It is difficult, but possible. It all depends on the built sports infrastructure. It is impossible to do everything at once when it has been abandoned for decades,” he said.
When asked if Ukraine is considering the possibility of holding one of the future Olympics together with one of its neighbors, Gutzeit gave a negative answer.
“There is no such thing to be able to jointly hold the Olympic Games. This is not being considered,” he stressed.
As reported, in 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that for Ukraine an ambitious sporting goal is to host the Olympic Games.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine will propose to the Cabinet of Ministers to extend the quarantine for the summer period while maintaining the main quarantine restrictions, said Health Minister Viktor Liashko during a government meeting on Wednesday.
“We will invite the government to consider extending the quarantine restrictions for the summer period. We must leave the main restrictions, in particular, the mandatory wearing of masks in public places, transport, as well as keeping a distance. If the situation worsens, we will promptly respond and introduce ‘yellow,’ ‘orange’ or ‘red’ epidemiological level,” he said.
Liashko added that the Ministry of Health had already developed proposals for a model of stay and activity in a “green” level of epidemic danger, which will provide more opportunities for recreation in the summer, business and travel.
“In particular, we plan to abolish the requirements for the occupancy of the halls, allow the full functioning of gyms and simplify the process of passing the borders for returning from vacations,” the minister said.
