Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, his word is rare.
In an interview with the Team, Sergei Bubka, the former pole vault star who wore the jersey of the USSR and then that of Ukraine, tells how he comes to the aid of Ukrainian athletes.
If he refused to mention the political aspect of the conflict, in which many sportsmen are engaged, Bubka says that he found himself “Faced with an immense task”, at the time of the Russian invasion.
“We had to locate people in Ukraine when everyone was dispersed, says the former pole vault world record holder.
We had to set up a small team to organize the work and provide assistance to Ukrainian athletes.
We had to find them, see what they needed, what kind of help could be given to them, how to get it to them.
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A great solidarity, an immense pain
Under the impetus of its President Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee released €1.5 million to create a solidarity fund for Ukrainian athletes, followed by many national federations and national Olympic committees.
“The reactions have been incredible.
At one point, I asked for support from the Turkish Olympic Committee.
They covered all the costs for what we asked of them, training camps, food... Same with the Romanian Olympic Committee, which I had asked to welcome our athletes in March before the World Athletics Championships in room in Belgrade and ensure their transfer to Serbia", says Bubka, pointing to "the Olympic values".
The solidarity is immense, the pain too.
The president of the Ukrainian Olympic committee thus evokes the death of the former captain of the water polo team, killed on the balcony of his apartment in Mariupol, under the eyes of Kira, his 12-year-old daughter.
“When I saw that, I asked my team to contact his grandfather, who himself had been an incredible water polo coach, and give Kira a scholarship,” Bubka said.
"You can't be well, you are suffering"
If he does not mention the situation of his family, the former athlete speaks of his immense sadness.
“When you see what is happening, you cannot be well, you are suffering.
How could we feel good with such a disaster?
(…) Now it's a little better, but a few weeks ago it was a nightmare.
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