AUGB honors fallen athletes: memorial installation opens in London

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) joined the UK government in honoring Ukrainian athletes whose lives were taken by Russia since the start of the full-scale invasion.

“If we act now, investing in military aid and working together, we can create a future where Ukraine is free from the threat posed by Putin’s Russia and returns to fighting for medals. As the world gathers this summer to celebrate the very best of sport, let us also come together to support Ukraine to end Russian aggression,” the AUGB emphasized.

The UK government, with the support of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the Sports Committee of Ukraine, set up an installation on Parliament Square in London to honor the memory of the fallen athletes.

“A horrifying figure ‘487’ – the estimated number of Ukrainian athletes killed in the war as of early July 2024 – appears on a 3D display,” reported the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

Surrounding the display are scattered athletic attributes – symbols of some of the sports practiced by the 487 fallen athletes.

“These athletes and coaches, some of whom have competed in or aspired to compete in the Olympics, will never have that chance again due to their untimely deaths. Many more have had to give up the hope of the Olympic dream due to life changing injuries and those who are still in Ukraine defending its freedom and sovereignty. Sadly, the true toll on Ukraine’s sporting community is likely to be far greater than current figures show,” the AUGB emphasized.

Ukraine will be represented by 140 athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. This is the smallest number of athletes in all the years of Ukraine’s participation in international sports competitions.

The UWC launched the #TheLastOlympics campaign to draw the world’s attention to the rise of authoritarian regimes and the threat they pose to free democratic states, with a clear message: if Ukraine is not supported today, this Olympics could be the last, and the Olympic flame will be overshadowed by the fire of the next world war.