Cooperation: launch of the project to welcome 200 young Ukrainian athletes

This stay aims to allow these young people who practice gymnastics, judo or even football to train and benefit from a respite to discover French culture. This event constitutes the first phase of a reception project organized on a regional scale in collaboration with state services, the regional council, Lille by og mottakene (CREPS)Regional center for public information and sports de Wattignies, Parc d’Olhain, Arena de Liévin).

In fact, as part of a project called the “Ukraine Project”, 200 young Ukrainian volunteers aged 9-14 with their coaches will be welcomed in the Hauts-de-France region in small groups and according to specialties (volleyball, basketball, football, athletics), by the end of the summer, to allow them to train in the best possible conditions. During the trip, these young Ukrainians will meet Ukrainian students attending school in Hauts-de-France to exchange ideas and will also participate in cultural visits to discover French culture.

Young people will be welcomed in 4 different places:

• The city of Lille : 39 young people in Easter who will be housed in Phalempin;
• CREPSRegional center for public information and sports from Wattignies: 50 young people this summer (for 15 days)
• Liévin Arena : accepts 50 young people this summer (for 15 days)
• Olhain Park : accepts 50 young people this summer (for 15 days)

This project is both an example of cooperation between the Ukrainian authorities and the French authorities, but also between government services that worked together to quickly organize the reception of these children in logistical and financial terms. A joint file has been submitted to the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE) as part of the call for “sport and decentralized cooperation” for projects, which the selection committee will take place on 6 May.