Wondering how Team Ukraine is doing? Catch up on all the Invictus Games events here, from the minute they arrived in Australia to the latest competition results.
18th OCTOBER, DAY ONE: ARRIVAL
Team Ukraine arrived early Thursday to a vibrant crowd at Sydney Airport. Zahrava Dance Ensemble performed, also giving a traditional welcome with bread and salt.
DAY TWO: MEETING WITH LUKE FOLEY MP
Members of the team were welcomed at NSW Parliament by Luke Foley MP. Speeches were made by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, the team Captain, team Ukraine competitors as well as members of the community.
See an excerpt of a speech below:
Between events and competitions, team members spend time training too. One example is the Cycling team, who trained with a number of other nations at the Newington Armoury.
20TH OCTOBER, DAY THREE: COMMUNITY WELCOME EVENT
Ukrainians in Sydney greeted Team Ukraine with a wonderful welcome event at the Youth Centre in Lidcombe.
The program included a prayer service led by clergy from both Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Churches, followed by speeches from the Team Ukraine captain, Vice Prime Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine – Ivanna Klympush, Chairman of the AFUO Stefan Romaniw, the Commissioner on rehabilitation of ATO participants – Vadym Svyrydenko and General Lieutenant Anatoliy Petrenko Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine on European Integration. See some of the speeches below.
Local Ukrainian cultural groups also performed, with Zahrava Dance Ensemble performed a vibrant Hopak as well as the Youth Bandurist Ensemble playing touching songs to name a few. The community then had the chance to meet and chat with the Team, many also taking the opportunity to take photos too.
The Team was also presented with handwritten letters from Ukrainian Community School students in Noble Park, Victoria. These were hand delivered by teacher Mrs Svitlana on their behalf.
The Opening Ceremony was next, with Team Ukraine flying the flag proudly upon entering the Sydney Opera House.
We are thrilled to be a part of #InvictusGames community! We are Invictus!#InvictusGamesTeamUkraine #IG2018 #GameOnDownUnder @InvictusSydney pic.twitter.com/wOyy0sUUEL
— Invictus Games UA (@invictusgamesua) October 20, 2018
Ukrainian flag on @InvictusSydney opening ceremony! #IG2018 #GameOnDownUnder pic.twitter.com/GssZdXuMMu
— Invictus Games UA (@invictusgamesua) October 20, 2018
Keep an eye on our website for the next post coming shortly, starting with results of the first event, Cycling, and much more!
