FISpT Mission to Ukraine: Sport for All, Refugee Inclusion and Solidarity

The International Sport for All Federation (FISpT) has completed a high‑level mission to Kyiv, strengthening partnerships with key Ukrainian sports and educational institutions and advancing two strategic pledges focused on refugee inclusion through sport for all. The visit combined institutional dialogue, concrete project planning, formal recognitions, and deeply symbolic field visits to communities affected by the war, underlining that Ukrainian institutions and children are not alone in their struggle.

The overall mission was organized by the Italian Sport for All Federation, the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation, and the International Sport for All Federation, which also jointly provided the financial aid and logistical support necessary to ensure the delegation’s physical presence in Kyiv. The main strategic objective was to present and begin operational planning for two Global Refugee Forum (GRF) pledges—GRF‑14050 and GRF‑14117—both centered on using sport for all as a tool for inclusion, resilience, and social cohesion for refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities.

Across all meetings, the delegation also focused on building a long‑term framework for cooperation with Ukrainian partners, including potential Erasmus+ projects, a future Sport for All congress in Ukraine, and education and training initiatives for coaches, teachers, and sports leaders. UkraineActive was present at all institutional meetings, ensuring continuity and national coordination across the different discussions.

The FISpT mission to Ukraine was carried out by a high‑level international delegation reflecting both the sport for all movement and the wider Olympic family. The team was composed of:

- Oleksandra Boliak, IOC Young Leader and FISpT Board Member, who is also implementing the “BeActive for Peace” project within the IOC Young Leaders Programme.

- Robert Rauch, President of the World Flying Disc Federation, Board Member of the International Sport for All Federation, ARISF and the International World Games Association (IWGA).

- Marco Tomasini, CEO of the International Sport for All Federation, President of the Italian Sport for All Federation, and Head of International Relations of the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation.

- Andrea Robbia, Executive Board Member of the Italian Sport for All Federation, President of the Dodgeball Department of the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation, and Head of the Humanitarian Project in Ukraine for the Italian Sport for All Federation.

The Italian Sport for All Federation and the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation covered the financial aid and operational costs of the mission, in close collaboration with FISpT. In support of the next phases, individuals and organizations can contribute to the mission and future related initiatives via the “Ukraine for All” fundraising campaign on GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukraine-for-all).

The two Ukrainian‑focused pledges presented during the mission are registered on the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 platform, which is part of the follow‑up architecture to the Global Compact on Refugees. The Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 is a high‑level officials’ meeting convened by UNHCR to assess progress on pledges made at past Global Refugee Forums and to maintain momentum towards the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees.

The Global Refugee Forum Progress Review 2025 took place from 15–17 December 2025 at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, bringing together states, international organizations, sports bodies, civil society, and refugee‑led organizations to take stock of achievements and gaps. The platform prioritizes expanding support for refugees and host countries, advancing implementation of existing pledges—including through multi‑stakeholder mechanisms—and directing efforts to areas where additional support is critically needed.

The International Sport for All Federation is a member of the Sport for Refugees Coalition, a multi‑stakeholder alliance launched in 2019 by the Olympic Refuge Foundation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and UNHCR. The Coalition now includes over 170 members, ranging from governments and National Olympic Committees to international federations, refugee‑led groups, academia, private sector and civil society organizations, all working together to make a lasting positive difference for people affected by crises and the communities that host them.

Ahead of the Global Refugee Forum, FISpT formally committed to the Multistakeholder Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection of Refugees. As part of this pledge, and specifically with the support of the Ukrainian Sports for All Federation, the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine and UkraineActive, FISpT commits to launching comprehensive training programmes for sports leaders and community coaches, equipping them to design and manage inclusive sport‑for‑all projects for refugees, internally displaced people, and host communities, and to provide ongoing technical support and knowledge‑sharing platforms to strengthen social cohesion and personal development through sport.

The first pledge presented in Ukraine, GRF‑14050 (Sport for All for integration of refugees), focuses on supporting refugees facing forced displacement by using sport for all as a tool for integration. The core pledge description is to support refugees in their host communities by using sport for all both in Ukraine and in the various countries where FISpT has members, with the expected impact described as “support inclusion using sport for all.”

The timeline for implementing GRF‑14050 spans the years 2027, 2028 and 2029, allowing for phased development of pilot projects, training of local leaders, and the creation of sustainable, community‑based sport programmes. Through this pledge, FISpT and its partners aim to scale up access to safe, inclusive and community‑anchored sport opportunities that can help refugees rebuild social networks, strengthen their physical and mental health, and feel part of their new societies.

The second pledge, GRF‑14117 “Sport for All for Resilience – Joint Programme,” is closely linked to the Sport for Refugees Coalition commitments and is designed as a multi‑stakeholder initiative involving FISpT, the Ukrainian Sports for All Federation, the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine and UkraineActive. Its main objective is to provide opportunities for enhanced skills and pathways in and through sport by launching specific inclusion initiatives for refugees and internally displaced people.

Under GRF‑14117, FISpT will facilitate comprehensive training programmes for sports leaders and community coaches, equipping them with technical expertise to design and manage inclusive sport‑for‑all projects tailored to refugee populations, internally displaced people, and host communities, while also ensuring long‑term technical support and knowledge‑sharing. The expected impact of the pledge is “support refugees and inclusion of refugees with sport for all,” with implementation envisaged starting in May 2027.

During the mission, the FISpT delegation met at the NOC headquarters on 20 May, engaging with Nataliia Kovalenko, Deputy Executive Director, and Nataliia Koroliova, Head of the President’s Office, who play leading roles in the daily management and strategic coordination of the Committee. The meeting focused on opportunities to collaborate on the two refugee‑related projects, explore NOC patronage for the initiatives within Ukraine, and strengthen cooperation between FISpT, the NOC and international partners.

The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC of Ukraine) is a non‑profit, all‑Ukrainian public organization responsible for the development, reinforcement and protection of the Olympic Movement in the country. Recognised in 1993, the NOC unites around 40 Ukrainian Olympic sports federations and maintains branches in all regions of Ukraine, acting as a key interface between the Olympic Movement and national sport structures.

At the Agency’s headquarters on 21 May, the FISpT delegation met with Director Andrii Rebryna, Deputy Director Oleksandr Bozhok, International Relations Officer Dmytro Kulik, Social Media and PR Specialist Anastasiia Mykhailovska, and Head of the Adaptive Sports Department Yehor Alieksieienko.

The discussions covered the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Italian Sport for All Federation and the AMC, the presentation of the impressive work carried out by the Agency across Ukraine, the launch of the two refugee‑related projects, the development of potential Erasmus+ projects, the organisation of a future Sport for All congress in Ukraine, and targeted projects on urban games, educational courses, and adaptive physical activities.

The State Institution “Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine” (also known as the All‑Ukrainian Center for Physical Culture and Sports “Sport for All”) is the main governmental body responsible for implementing state policy in the field of physical culture and mass sports.

It leads large‑scale initiatives such as the “Healthy Ukraine” programme, “Active Parks,” and major public events like “Active Country” and “Olympic Country,” all aimed at doubling the number of people engaged in mass sport and strengthening the health of the population through active lifestyles.

UkraineActive participated in all meetings of the mission, ensuring that the refugee‑related projects are anchored in local knowledge and community networks. With UkraineActive, FISpT and the Italian partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding, presented the work of AMC and UkraineActive country‑wide, and mapped out next steps to deploy the two pledges on refugees, explore Erasmus+ projects, and organise a Sport for All congress in Ukraine.

UkraineActive is a national organization dedicated to promoting sport for all and active lifestyles across the country, with a strong focus on community‑based initiatives and inclusion. The federation, led by President Andrii Boliak and Vice President Ihor Khadzhynov, operates as a key civil society partner in mass sport and is closely aligned with FISpT’s mission and values.

During the meeting on 22 May at the Lyceum’s premises, FISpT and its partners discussed how to start implementing the two refugee‑related projects within the school environment.

Plans were developed to organize online training sessions in dodgeball, dance and flying disc for the entire institute, allowing children to discover new sports and to connect with other schools in the wider network to deliver support and physical education activities as part of the broader humanitarian mission.

Secondary General Education School of I–III Levels No. 42 “Lyceum No. 42” in Kyiv is a comprehensive educational institution that combines academic learning with strong emphasis on physical education and extracurricular activities. Led by Principal/Director Yurii Dubovetskyi, the school plays a significant role in shaping the values and daily experience of children and young people in its community.

At the Ministry’s headquarters on 22 May, the FISpT delegation met with Minister of Youth and Sports Matvii Bidnyi and Nataliia Radchuk, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration.

The meeting focused on presenting the two refugee‑related projects linked to the Sport for Refugees Coalition, discussing the organization of a national Sport for All congress in Ukraine, informing the Ministry about ongoing and planned activities, and exploring an enhanced international cooperation framework that reinforces Ukraine’s presence within FISpT and the global sport for all movement.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine is the government ministry responsible for state policy in youth affairs, sport, physical culture and related domains, including Olympic, non‑Olympic and mass sports. Established in 1991, it is part of the Cabinet of Ministers and provides strategic guidance, regulatory frameworks and support for national sport development alongside the NOC of Ukraine.

At NUPESU, the delegation met with Acting Rector Professor Hennadii Vasylchuk (Doctor of Historical Sciences), Professor Myroslav Dutchak (Department of Health, Recreation and Physical Activity, Doctor of Sciences in Physical Education and Sport, Honoured Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine), Vice‑Rector for Academic Affairs Professor Olha Borysova (Doctor of Sciences in Physical Education and Sport, Honoured Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine), and Associate Professor Tetiana Kropyvnytska, Head of the Department of Professional, Non‑Olympic and Adaptive Sports (PhD in Physical Education and Sport).

The meeting explored the FISpT model, the possibility for NUPESU to become an Associate Member of FISpT, and collaboration in adaptive physical activity projects and educational programmes aligned with the two pledges.

The National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport (NUPESU) is a leading higher education institution in Kyiv specializing in physical education, sport science and coaching. The university traces its roots back to 1930, when it opened as the National Institute of Physical Education of Ukraine in Kharkiv, before being transferred to Kyiv in 1944 and later gaining university status.

In Kyiv, the delegation met with Professor Valentyna Yermolova, Director of the Olympic Academy of Ukraine, member of the Olympic Education and Culture Commission of the NOC of Ukraine and Professor in the Department of History and Theory of Olympic Sport at NUPESU, and Professor Lidiia Radchenko, Dean of the Olympic Academy of Ukraine, Head of the Department of History and Theory of Olympic Sport at NUPESU, and member of several academic and Olympic education bodies, including the Olympic Education Commission of the European Olympic Academies. The meeting launched a process to develop a sport for all educational plan in partnership with FISpT, support the Academy’s programmes, and disseminate its work internationally through FISpT’s networks.

The Olympic Academy of Ukraine, established on 20 September 1991, is an independent non‑governmental organization operating under the auspices of the NOC of Ukraine and hosted at the Olympic Study and Research Institute of NUPESU.

It is dedicated to promoting Olympic education, research and culture across Ukraine, and plays an active role in national and European Olympic education networks.

At the Committee’s headquarters on 22 May, the FISpT delegation met with President Illia Shevliak, a member of the Presidium, and Vice President Roksana Kasumova. The discussion welcomed the Sports Committee of Ukraine as a member of FISpT, examined how the two refugee‑related projects can be deployed in partnership with the Committee and its member organizations, and identified ways in which FISpT can support local implementation and capacity building.

The Sports Committee of Ukraine is a national sports organization that brings together a wide range of sports associations and plays an important role in promoting sport and physical activity, particularly in non‑Olympic disciplines and at grassroots level. It works closely with civil society and international partners to develop sport initiatives and to represent Ukrainian sport in various multi‑sport and sport for all platforms.

To recognize outstanding support to sport and sport for all in Ukraine, FISpT presented several Certificates of Appreciation during the mission. These were awarded to:

- Vadym Gutzeit, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

- Andrii Rebryna, Director of the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine.

- Andrii Boliak, President of UkraineActive.

- Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkqhGVGYEfA

In addition, FISpT conferred institutional awards for contributions to sport for all and support in promoting inclusive physical activity to the following: the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine, UkraineActive, Illia Shevliak (President of the Sports Committee of Ukraine), the Sports Committee of Ukraine as an institution, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. These recognitions underline a shared commitment to expanding access to sport and physical activity at all levels of Ukrainian society, even under conditions of war.

A particularly significant aspect of the mission was the physical presence of FISpT and its partners in Kyiv at a time when many international organizations still operate primarily at distance. The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Agency for Mass Sports both underlined that FISpT is the first and only IOC‑recognized sport for all organization to be physically present in Kyiv after the war began, and one of very few organizations from the IOC family to decide to visit in person.

This decision to be on the ground was more than symbolic: it was an expression of solidarity, recognition, and commitment to work side by side with Ukrainian institutions, educators, and communities. By travelling to Kyiv, FISpT and the Italian partners wanted to send a clear message that Ukraine is not alone and that the international sport for all movement stands ready to support reconstruction, inclusion, and hope through sport.

Beyond official meetings, the delegation visited Bucha, Irpin and Hostomel—towns that have become global symbols of the destruction and human suffering caused by the war. These visits allowed FISpT leaders to see firsthand the consequences of the conflict on communities, infrastructure, and daily life, reinforcing the urgency and relevance of refugee‑ and displacement‑related pledges.

The mission was not limited to observation: the delegation spent a full day in school, training and playing with children, introducing activities such as dodgeball, dance and flying disc, and demonstrating how sport for all can create moments of joy, normality and connection even in extremely difficult circumstances. This human dimension—listening to children, teachers and families, and sharing play under the banner of sport for all—is at the heart of FISpT’s humanitarian approach and will inform the way the two pledges are implemented in Ukraine.

Following the mission, the next steps focus on moving from planning to implementation of GRF‑14050 and GRF‑14117 and related humanitarian sport for all projects in Ukraine. Together with the NOC of Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine, UkraineActive, the Sports Committee of Ukraine, NUPESU, the Olympic Academy and partner schools such as Lyceum No. 42, FISpT will further detail pilot activities, training curricula, and community‑level programmes.

These efforts will include the development of inclusive sports programmes for refugees and internally displaced people, educational projects for teachers and coaches, adaptive physical activity initiatives, and international exchanges and congresses hosted in Ukraine. The financial and moral support of the Italian Sport for All Federation and the Italian Traditional Sports and Games Federation, together with contributions through the “Ukraine for All” GoFundMe campaign, will be critical to sustain and scale these activities in the years leading up to and beyond 2027.

To make these commitments a reality on the ground and to ensure that children, refugees, internally displaced people and host communities in Ukraine can benefit from safe, inclusive and meaningful sport for all opportunities, FISpT and its partners warmly invite institutions, companies and individuals to support the mission. Donations in support of the humanitarian projects and the implementation of the two pledges can be made via the “Ukraine for All” campaign at the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ukraine-for-all.

Every contribution, regardless of its size, will help create new spaces for play, learning and community building, and will send a clear message to the people of Ukraine that the international sport for all family stands by their side.

MEDIA OF THE MISSION

Pictures of the meeting with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CtcEkgMEJ/

Pictures of the meeting with the Kyiv Secondary General Education School: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMpv351V3/

Video of the event at the Kyiv Secondary General Education School:

https://www.youtube.com/live/vpmKVNbAvlA

Pictures of the meeting with the Sports Committee of Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/share/1L1Y93RXAv/

Pictures of the meeting with the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine (Kyiv): https://www.facebook.com/share/14eKznjnrbc/

Pictures of the meeting with the International Centre for Olympic Studies and Olympic Education (Kyiv): https://www.facebook.com/share/18a9s5LkCh/

Pictures of the visit to Bucha, Irpin, Gostomel: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BXELi4bWT/

Pictures of the meeting with the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/share/1J8GLLunzx/

Pictures of the meeting with the Agency for Mass Sports of Ukraine: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DuMT28wrb/