At the “Atek Arena” ice arena in Kyiv, the first Ukrainian amateur para-hockey tournament for persons with disabilities took place. Four teams, made up of war veterans, athletes and enthusiasts from 12 regions of the country, competed. About this informs press service of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
Para-hockey (also known as sledge hockey) is an adaptive sport where people with amputations or lower limb disabilities play hockey on special sledges. To move and play, athletes use two short sticks with metal spikes on the ends. The rules of the game are almost the same as in classic hockey: there are offsides, penalty minutes, power plays and even possible fights.
The training of the participants of the tournament took place in Kyiv and Lviv — the cities where para-hockey is most actively developing in Ukraine. The athletes not only improved their skills, but also created a community around inclusive sports, which is an important component of the rehabilitation and social integration of veterans. Some of the players will continue training in Lviv and Kyiv, while others will start developing parahockey in their communities, becoming an example to follow.
This tournament became a symbolic start for the formation of the national parahockey league and the national team of Ukraine. At the same time, this is an important step towards creating new opportunities for people with disabilities.
The opening ceremony was attended by a veteran and Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Ruslan Prykhodko, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Serhiy Timofeev, President of the National Committee of Sports for the Disabled of Ukraine Valery Sushkevich, Vice President of the Committee Oksana Skugareva, Deputy Head of the KMDA Olena Govorova and Chairman of the Board of the NGO “Hockey Club Sokil Kyiv” Oleksiy Zhitnyk.
The first place in the tournament was won by the “Unbreakable” team from Lviv, the second place was taken by “Halytsky Levy”, also from Lviv, and the third place was won by “Sokil” from Kyiv. The tournament was held with the support of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the KMDA and the Invasport Ukrainian Center.
