From Kropyvnytskyi two athletes will go to the Special Olympics World Summer Games

Two athletes from Kirovohrad region, Maxim Nalyvayko and Marianna Akhrarova, will participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. Both athletes have Down syndrome and will compete in the gymnastics events. They are being prepared for their performance by coach Oleksandr Redozubov.

The Special Olympics World Summer Games are scheduled to take place in Berlin from June 12 to June 25. Over 7,000 athletes from 185 delegations are expected to participate, with the support of 20,000 volunteers. Athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in 26 disciplines. The Ukrainian team will participate in seven sports: gymnastics, athletics, bocce, basketball, badminton, swimming, and table tennis.

Previously, there was a public discussion in Kropyvnytskyi regarding whether it is appropriate for Ukrainian athletes to participate in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Representatives from sports federations, departments of physical culture and sports, coaches, and athletes from Kirovohrad region participated in the discussion. The consensus was to oppose a boycott of the Olympics and to support the position of not allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete.