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The large-scale veterans’ competition “HART | Wheelchair Basketball” took place in the Lviv region. The event, organized by the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center in partnership with the Ministry for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine and with the support of the MATRA Programme of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine and general partner EPAM Ukraine, united over 100 veterans from all corners of Ukraine through their love for sports.
For participants trying wheelchair basketball for the first time, a five-day sports camp was held from May 4 to 8. During the week, 38 participants prepared for the final competition at the sports camp, honing their skills under the guidance of professional coaches. After the training sessions, they had the opportunity to consult with physiotherapists who provided expert assistance. The camp activities were not limited to basketball training. Veterans could also try their hand at other sports, such as archery, swimming, and rowing on simulators.
The main goal of the project is to promote the quality recovery of veterans with visible and invisible injuries, wounds, or illnesses sustained while defending the homeland, through adaptive sports.
The topic of veteran adaptation is familiar to us—some of our mobilized colleagues have already returned to work. We understand the value of projects that impact veterans’ lives. After camps like the one in Lviv region, veterans show improved socialization and reduced distress levels. Half of those who came to the competition got involved in adaptive sports for the first time thanks to these camps. And after they were held, almost all said they plan to keep sports in their lives. Such initiatives bring people back to life
says Andriy Trofimov, Head of the Western Ukrainian location at EPAM
After the camp, experienced players from all over Ukraine joined the participants to compete together in the All-Ukrainian Wheelchair Basketball Competition on May 9-10. Each veteran had the opportunity to attend the event with two relatives or friends, for whom the organizers provided accommodation and meals.
Over 100 veterans demonstrated incredible strength and a will to win during the competitions. Experienced participants and newcomers competed in separate tournament brackets, ensuring equal and fair conditions based on their level of training.
Last year, when we first organized the wheelchair basketball competition. Now we have 12 teams of different levels and almost twice as many participants. This is not just a number; it’s over 100 concrete examples of how adaptive sports become a powerful tool on the path to veteran recovery,
says Ihor Krytsak, project manager of “HART” at the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center.
All participants of the exciting and intense competitions were awarded honorary medals, which were presented by special guests—the children of fallen heroes.
