Poland is among the countries that have prepared a statement calling on the international community to continue to show solidarity with Ukraine. The full statement is presented below.

Statement issued at the 7th International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials Responsible for Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS VII)

“The International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials of Physical Education and Sport (MINEPS) has played an important role in establishing physical education and sport as a fundamental right for all since its inception, including through the adoption of the International Charter of Physical Education and Sport. Sport.

To ensure that this important value is respected, we must make every effort to protect the rights of all those who wish to participate in physical education and grassroots sports, especially when, through no fault of their own, they are prevented from doing so. . From the time Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine until June 16, [1], 317 Ukrainian athletes, sports coaches and players have died. As a result of Russian shelling and shelling, 363 sports facilities were destroyed or damaged, including the famous stadium which is part of the Olympic sports training center in Chernihiv and the “Altajir” ice rink in Druzhkivka.

Russia’s unprovoked and unwarranted invasion has destroyed the infrastructure throughout Ukraine that supports sport, physical education and physical activity and contributes significantly to the health and well-being of Ukrainian citizens . Children’s access to sport, exercise and physical education has been disrupted or prevented due to the war started by Russia.

All in all, in the context of the MINEPS VII conference, the Russian aggression war is an attack on sport, physical education and physical activity of Ukrainian citizens and will have a profound long-term impact on their health. physical and mental. However, at the same time, we appreciate the extraordinary resilience, dedication and bravery of many Ukrainians who, in these horrific circumstances, try to continue practicing sport, exercise and physical education, whether in the gymnasiums, sports halls, schools, places of work or at home and other places.

As a group of 41 ministers and their respective high-level sports officials from like-minded countries, we encourage the international sports community to continue to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including by supporting the continuation, reconstruction and reconstruction of Ukrainian sport wherever possible.

Russia must not be allowed to use sport to legitimize its unlawful and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine; Nor should Belarus be allowed to use sport to legitimize its complicity in Russia’s war of aggression. The Russian Federation must immediately cease its military aggression, cease its attacks on Ukraine and withdraw all its forces and military equipment from all Ukrainian territory within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial waters.

This statement is issued on behalf of the following countries:

Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland North.

mineps

MINEPS is a global conference held every few years under the auspices of UNESCO, involving governments, athletes, the private sector and other stakeholders, held in various cities around the world. The objective of the event is to increase investment in sport, to improve good sports practices worldwide, to promote high quality physical education in each country and to increase the positive impact of sport. on health, society and the economy. This year’s edition of the conference took place in a matter of days June 26-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

[1] Data provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine