IOC President on his organization’s effort to aid the Ukrainian Olympic community

International Olympic President (IOC) Thomas Bach released a letter detailing his organization’s efforts to support the Ukrainian Olympic community on Thursday. He stated that the IOC would create a solidarity fund for the Ukrainian Olympic community.

An excerpt of his letter read, “in response to the continued humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, the IOC and the NOC of Ukraine have been overwhelmed with an outpouring of solidarity from stakeholders across the Olympic Movement.”

“Many National Olympic Committees and International Federations, and their member federations, have already launched initiatives to assist exiled Ukrainian athletes of all levels, which we applaud and encourage.”

He then defined the efforts his own organization would take in assisting members of the Ukrainian Olympic community, including the creation of the solidarity fund. It was not immediately clear what the fund would cover, only that it would aid with “humanitarian assistance.”

The IOC has also tasked Ukrainian National Olympic Committee President, and IOC Member, Sergii Bubka with coordinating “all elements of humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian Olympic Community.”

Bach wrote, “with the support of Olympic Solidarity in Lausanne and his team at the NOC in Ukraine, Mr Bubka will lead on the allocation and distribution of the solidarity fund towards the Ukrainian Olympic community and sports movement.”

He added, “to facilitate this task we will begin collecting information on the whereabouts of these members of the Ukrainian Olympic community as well as ongoing initiatives and support.”

Bach also noted the plight of Ukrainians fleeing the destruction of war into other nations around Europe. He noted, “in the long run, the Olympic Refuge Foundation is well placed to respond to the impending impacts that this armed conflict will create on the well-being of Ukrainian people and their host communities.”

He concluded his letter stating, “in these turbulent times and with the solidarity shown across the Olympic Movement, we are stronger together.”