Not just sports: Oleksandr Svishchov turns a water polo tournament into a symbol of memory and resilience
Kyiv hosted a tournament in memory of Vitaliy Lisun, a national water polo coach and sportsman who died at the front in 2022. For three days, five teams from different cities of Ukraine fought for victory. For the second time in a row, the Odesa team became the champion.
Words of support from Oleksandr Svishchov
Oleksandr Svishchov, President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, emphasized the importance of holding such tournaments: “The memory of a person lives on as long as we cherish and honor them. Vitaliy did a lot for Ukrainian water polo and could have done even more if not for the war. We want such tournaments to become an impetus for young athletes. The Federation will do everything to ensure that the memory of our heroes is immortalized.”
Oleksandr Svishchov thanked the organizers, coaches and players for their participation, noting the high level of preparation of the competition in the capital.
Standings:
- 1st place – Water polo club Odesa
- 2nd place – Children and Youth Sports School “Dynamo” Kyiv
- 3rd place – Kharkiv
- 4th place – Dnipro
- 5th place – CYSS-21 Kyiv
Sport and memory
Vitaliy Lisun was a state coach of Ukraine, a national category judge and a long-time secretary of the Water Polo Federation. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces and was killed in the Kharkiv region in July 2022.
Last year, Oleksandr Svishchov announced his intention to make this tournament a tradition to honor Lisun’s memory and develop water polo in Ukraine.
Oleksandr Svishchov on the development of sports and support for the army
In addition to leading the Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov actively invests in sports and social projects. In particular, he contributed to the creation of the LEOLAND complex, supports young people in sports, and systematically helps the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For his help to the military, he received numerous awards, including a commendation from Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, awards from the 103rd and 125th Brigades of the TRO, and the Golden Lion honorary award from the 24th Brigade named after King Danylo.
Recently, Mr. Svishchov was ranked among the top 3 investors in Western Ukraine along with businessman Hryhoriy Kozlovsky, which confirmed his role as a driver of the country’s economic stability.
