IPC Vice President Awards Paralympic Order to Sushkevych in Ukraine

During a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and representatives of the Paralympic Sports Movement in Ukraine, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Vice President Miguel Sagarra on behalf of the IPC thanked Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the Ukrainian government for supporting Paralympic sport.

"Ukraine truly deserves its excellent reputation as one of the countries best developing the Paralympic Movement," said Sagarra.

The IPC Vice President recalled that Ukrainian athletes won lots of medals at various Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, and last year in Beijing the Ukrainian Team took fourth place in the medal tally.

Sagarra also thanked the government for creating a national center for training in Yevpatoria. "This center and the training provided is top of the class in regards to international standards," he said.

Sagarra also presented the President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, Valeriy Sushkevych with an Paralympic Order.

"This award is recognition by the International Paralympic Committee of the commitment that this person has demonstrated not only for Paralympic Sport, but in general for all people who have special needs. He is also addressing problems faced by children and youth with a disability and working hard on these issues. He knows what athletes need and is a man who overcame many obstacles himself," said Sagarra in awarding the Order to Sushkevych.

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko added that it was Sushkevych who forced society to believe in the Ukrainian Paralympic athletes. "His work in parliament and government is so professional and of high quality that today every official and deputy has a commitment to support the development of Paralympic Sport. He taught society about people with a disability and made them a symbol of pride rather than a problem," said Tymoshenko.