Vice President Pilný discussed the development of the Ukrainian federation and its increased integration and involvement with European Athletics.
The Vice President, accompanied by President Hotsul and Olga Aksyonova, head of the federation’s development department, visited the city of Zaporizhia. They met with iron and steel works JSC Zaporizhstal’s General Director Rostyslav Shurma and the leading athletes of the sports complex Metallurg.
They discussed the partnership between Zaporizhstal and the Ukrainian athletics federation signed in 2013 that saw the company donate 3.5 million UAH (€300,000) for the reconstruction of the athletic training facilities at Metallurg, with the Ukrainian federation supplying modern track and field equipment.
“I’m glad that we are talking about sport today. Sport is the peace and the health of the nation, it is the future, and I am doubly pleased that such a large industrial giant as Zaporizhstal is not only the leader of Ukrainian industry, but also a leader of social responsibility,” said Pilný.
After the meeting the delegation visited a Zaporizhstal plant, before Pilný took part in a medal ceremony during the Ukrainian National Youth Indoor Championships in Zaporizhia.
The following day, the Vice President held a seminar for the presidents of Ukraine’s regional athletic federations. He discussed his wide experiences regarding the transformation of Czechoslovakian sport, and particularly athletics, after the changes in 1989, and his experiences of the last 20 years in European athletics. He also took part in a meeting of the Ukrainian Athletic Federation Development Committee.
During his visit, Pilný handed over a European Athletics commemorative plaque to Ukrainian heptathlete Nataliya Dobrynska for her European indoor record.
President Hotsul also accompanied Pilný to a ceremony for the Ukrainian national team that will participate in the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.