KIEV: The Ukrainian city of Lviv officially joined the race to win the right to host the 2022 Winter Olympics -- their announcement coming hours after Beijing declared their candidacy.
Ukraine National Olympic Committee (NOC) President and athletics legend Sergey Bubka and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy officially signed the letters of declaration expressing Ukraine’s intent to bid during the Ukraine NOC General Assembly in Kiev.
The bid by Lviv, situated in Western Ukraine, is something that Bubka, who is also on the decision making executive board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), didn’t think possible a decade ago and for him said it all about the progress the country had made.
“Ten years ago I could not imagine that I would witness a Ukrainian bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said the 49-year-old, who was crowned outdoor pole vault world champion six times.
He added: “This confirms the revival of Ukrainian sporting traditions, the development of winter sports and a new
focus on the Olympic values.” AFP
