On 14-17 November, the Central European school district competition for the President’s Cup of the Banská Bystrica self-governing region took place in Banská Bystrica (Slovakia).
“The sporting event was attended by 36 boys and girls from Lviv region who competed in floorball and volleyball. These are teenagers under the age of 17. It’s a great time for expanding horizons, friendship, and youthful maximalism. I believe that this experience of international competitions will only encourage young people to play sports, travel and study. By the way, all of our teams won silver medals,” says Roman Khimyak, head of the Youth and Sports Department of the Lviv Regional Administration.
The floorball players defeated Poland 51-0 and drew 3-3 with Slovakia. Because the Slovaks scored two more goals in the tournament, they won the competition. The boys from the Lviv region became silver medallists.
The girls’ floorball team beat their rivals from Poland 5-0 and lost to Slovakia 3-1, so they also took second place.
“The trip was interesting and fun, everything was fine. The children were happy, they were just upset that all the teams did not come, because it would have been more interesting. Six boys’ and girls’ floorball teams were supposed to compete in the tournament, but there were only three,” says Snizhana Dubyk, floorball coach.
The volleyball team from Lviv Oblast also won silver at the school competition in Banska Bystrica. The games were held in a large hall where the top division volleyball team of the Slovak championship plays.
“According to the regulations, we played in mixed teams of boys and girls, with at least three girls on the court. We had never played or even trained in such a mix before. It turned out to be quite interesting and exciting matches and unpredictable draws. All the players gained good international experience, which will give them confidence in their performances in the Ukrainian Children’s League championship,” says the team’s volleyball coach Yuriy Malchytskyi.
The rivals of the volleyball players from Lviv region were their peers from Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. It was with the hosts that the main struggle for first place was.
The Ukrainians defeated the teams from Hungary and Poland with a score of 2:0, and lost 1-2 in the match against the Slovaks. Thus, they took second place.
We would like to add that the schoolchildren’s trip to the Presidential Cup of the Bansko-Bystrica Self-Governing Region was supported by the Department of Youth and Sports and the Department of International Cooperation of the Lviv Regional Military Administration.