Mr. Sushkevich, Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for almost six months. How important is parasport in such a time of need for your home country?
The Paralympic Movement is one of the highest goals of human civilization. It shows that a person without legs, without arms, sitting in a wheelchair, without sight, can achieve the highest goals with the power of his will. The movement arose in the wake of the horrors of the Second World War to give people who had lost their health and everything a new chance for self-realization. It brings people back to life who, in some societies, would no longer have a chance because of their disability.
Ukraine performs particularly well in international competitions. Where does this success come from?
Again and again we are asked why a country that has been struggling economically, that has been suffering from war for years, is still so successful. Yes, even despite the war, such phenomenal successes were achieved, as at the last Olympic Games in Beijing. The success of the Paralympic sport has made it even more popular in our country. But the cornerstone for the results was laid 25 years ago. We have built an efficient system, do youth work, talent development and work more closely with the government. Another important step was the fight against corruption. The most important thing is not so much the sporting success, but also that we are committed to social change. Training not only strengthens a disabled athlete physically, but also mentally. He regains the belief that he has value in society. And society also recognizes his sporting achievements on the international stage and identifies with his success.
So parasport brings hope in times of war?
When an injured young man is brought to us, with two legs blown off in a battle, and who tells me he doesn’t want to live anymore, I show him a paraswimmer, also without legs, but with a fit upper body, with a healthy self-confidence . A guy who made it through college, who’s a successful person in life, who’s a champion.
Are you afraid that there will be more such wounded young men in the future?
And what about the children? We live in a war-torn country where, statistically, two children are killed and four are horribly mutilated every day by the invaders. And the scariest thing is that it’s all happening in the middle of 21st century Europe and the largest country in the world suddenly decides that another nation should no longer have the right to exist. Rockets are fired daily, and not just at military targets. In Kharkiv, at the beginning of the war, a school for the blind, the oldest in the country, was completely destroyed. And the whole thing is legitimized because you have so many deadly weapons at your disposal and that gives you the right to conquer others. Therein lies the brutalization of this war. This war is the exact opposite of the spirit and achievements of the Paralympic Movement.
Russia’s policies endanger the spirit of this movement?
When Russian athletes and coaches write to us that we all belong under the ground because we dared to resist, you can see that Putin’s propaganda is not isolated but all-encompassing. Because what is an Olympic athlete? He’s a part of the Russian consciousness that’s completely twisted by this war mash-up. The athletes have become an element of Putin’s propaganda, an element of his war. And Putin pays special attention to Olympic and Paralympic athletes. That’s why it’s right to exclude them. Because they allow themselves to be misused as an instrument of his political influence and contribute to the spread of his terrible worldview.
Isn’t sport also politically appropriated in Ukraine?
You can’t compare that. When our athletes win, they don’t do it for Zelenskyy. They do it primarily for themselves, but of course also as citizens of their homeland. And when a country is attacked, as in our case, the athlete tries to defend his homeland as best he can. Its front in this case is the sporting competition. Our para athletes kept getting messages from home during the Olympic Games in Beijing: guys, keep it up. we need you
Despite your sporting successes, you are facing gloomy times.
Hundreds of athletes face an uncertain future, hundreds of athletes competing at the highest level. The money that the government is currently using for defense is lacking. Ukraine’s Olympic Movement faces extinction without foreign aid.
