A large-scale reconstruction of the rowing base, famous throughout Ukraine, is under way in Dobrotvir. Once upgraded, it will feature a new gym, a boathouse, changing rooms, four training courts for volleyball, basketball and five-a-side football, as well as a separate outdoor gym area with exercise machines.
The Dobrotvir rowing school has been operating for more than half a century. Among its alumni are eight-time world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Mykhailo Slivinskyi, and world champion and six-time World Championship medallist Oleksii Slivinskyi. Last year, six athletes from this school joined Ukraine’s national rowing team. One of the base’s advantages is the possibility to train here all year round.
According to the project’s initiators, the upgraded base is intended not only to continue Dobrotvir’s strong sporting traditions, but also to become a space for the recovery of service personnel and veterans. The rehabilitation facilities are planned to be integrated with the equipment and services of Dobrotvir Hospital.
The first step in this direction was the “Varta Yednosti” (Guard of Unity), which was recently held in Dobrotvir for the first time. Veterans from Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia and Kharkiv regions came to Lviv region. Together with veterans from Lviv region, they competed in five-a-side football and rowing in adapted mini dragon boats.
The organisers note that such events combine sports rehabilitation with informal communication and mutual support among veterans. The winners of the competitions were awarded on site.
This year, the regional budget has allocated more than 16 million hryvnias for the development of rehabilitation through sport. The funds will be directed towards sports infrastructure, support for adaptive sport, and the organisation of sports and rehabilitation camps and competitions for wounded soldiers and veterans. The authorities emphasise that demand for such programmes is growing, so next year in Lviv region they plan not to reduce the level of support.