For ten days, veterans had the opportunity to improve their general physical training and archery skills at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center
The Department of Youth and Sports of the Lviv Regional Government for the second time organized rehabilitation and sports meetings for active military personnel and veterans who take an active part in sports competitions.
Among the participants of the meeting are the prize-winners of the international “Invincible Games” and “Warrior Games”. Archery athletes of the Lviv Regional Sports Center for People with Disabilities “Invasport” were also invited to the meeting. This will allow athletes to exchange experience and improve their skills.
“This year’s “Invincible Games” showed that the level of our veterans is very high, because we practically did not train before the competition. Despite this, we managed to show high results. Now I practice archery more for myself, I want to show other soldiers and veterans by my example that there is such an opportunity – to train, compete, travel,” – shares Serhii Kalytyuk, a Ukrainian military man who was wounded in 2014 during an assault in the Yampol region. This year, Serhii won medals both at the “Invincible Games” in the Netherlands and at the “Warrior Games” in the USA.
According to coach Lesya Shah, archery is the best sport for rehabilitation. Especially for those in wheelchairs. Our boys, who were in rehabilitation in the USA, said that American doctors also emphasize this. After all, in this type of sport, the muscles of the back, arms, and everything they need are worked out.
“Sport is a good method of rehabilitation, because you discipline yourself, educate yourself, and due to this you improve your mental and physical health. A military man who, after being discharged from service, does not feel in demand, who will not be involved anywhere, he begins to bite himself. And when a person is involved somewhere, he will come out of a depressive state, and the results can be very cool,” says veteran Pavlo Luchkiv. The man fought in 2014-2015. After the injury, he got acquainted with archery. Took part in selections for the national team for international veteran competitions.
The common dream of both veterans and coaches is to create a special sports space for military personnel and veterans, which will be accessible to people with various types of injuries. At the end of December, they plan to hold another gathering – the military, who are currently at the front, should join it.
Funds for holding meetings are provided by the Comprehensive Program for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports of the Lviv Region, which is implemented by the Department of Youth and Sports of the Lviv Oblast.
“We were the first among the oblasts to integrate the direction of physical culture and sports rehabilitation of ATO/OOS participants and veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war into the oblast’s sports development program. Physical activity in combination with the work of a psychologist allows people to return to a healthy civilian life after severe injuries. In veteran sports, a person finds people close to him in spirit, new goals and new motivation. That is why in the near future we will expand and improve our areas of work as much as possible,” says Roman Khimyak, Head of the Department of Youth and Sports of the Lviv Regional State Administration.