Ukraine National Olympic Committee and City of Lviv sign Letters of Declaration for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

On Tuesday, 5 November, Ukraine NOC President Sergey Bubka and Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy officially signed the letters of declaration expressing Ukraine’s intent to Bid for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The official signing took place during the XXVIII Ukraine NOC General Assembly in Kyiv.

"Our bid to host the 2022 Winter Games is based on the real need of the region. Forty-six million Ukrainians need more sports and tourism infrastructure in the Carpathian Mountains. Our athletes will be able to train at home and Ukrainians will be able to enjoy winter sports in our own country", said the Head of Organizing Committee on preparation and submission of Ukraine’s Bid to the IOC, Vice-Prime-Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Vilkul.

He added that the 2022 Winter Games bid is about more than new venues, roads and hotels. "Lviv 2022 will leave a "human legacy" of new skills and experiences for athletes, coaches, referees, media and administrators of sport".

"Ten years ago I could not imagine that I would witness a Ukrainian bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This confirms the revival of Ukrainian sporting traditions, the development of winter sports and a new focus on the Olympic values. We are creating an opportunity for future generations to join the Olympic Movement and to give the world new Olympic champions", said Ukraine NOC President Sergey Bubka.

Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy is convinced that Lviv 2022 will help tourists discover the unique qualities of his fabled city. "Our plans for Lviv 2022 fit seamlessly into the city’s and region’s longer-term development programme. Lviv is only 60 kilometres from the European Union and will attract millions in foreign investment, serving as a catalyst for Lviv tourism, transport and economic infrastructure development. The Bid creates new opportunities for the city’s rapid development", said Sadovyy.

Prior to the official signing ceremony, the Ukraine NOC General Assembly voted in favour of the Lviv 2022 Bid thus making it the fourth favourable vote for the Bid. Previously, the Lviv City Council gave its official approval to the Bid on 24 October. The Lviv Regional Council approved the Bid on 22 October, and the Council of Regions unanimously supported Lviv 2022 at its session on 16 October. Ukraine’s Bid to host the 2022 Winter Games enjoys the benefit of full government commitment joined by the support of its sports community.

According to the Lviv 2022 Games Concept, the official Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place in the recently built Lviv Arena. The area around the Lviv Arena will serve as the Olympic Park and will accommodate ice venues, the Olympic Village and the International Broadcast and Main Press Centres. Nordic skiing and alpine snow events will take place in the Carpathians, located near the city, which are in fact, the geographical centre of Europe.

For more information contact: Lviv 2022 Bid Committee Press Office at media@lviv2022.org.

As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.

These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.

20 Years at #1: