Ukrainian water polo is celebrating a landmark date – the 111th anniversary of the first official match that took place in Lviv. On this occasion, Oleksandr Svishchov, President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, spoke to the media center, sharing his thoughts on the history, current challenges, and vision of the sport’s future, Dengi.ua writes.
Historical significance and current challenges
The President of the Federation also emphasized the current challenges faced by Ukrainian water polo in the context of a full-scale war. Teams and players from the eastern regions, such as Kharkiv, Kramatorsk and Mariupol, have been particularly affected. “The Ukrainian Water Polo Federation did everything possible to save these teams, children and athletes. For us, the main task was to prevent the game from disappearing, to maintain its continuity,” – emphasized Oleksandr Svishchov.
Lviv is the center of Ukrainian water polo
Answering the question about the state of water polo in Lviv, Oleksandr Svishchov proudly stated that Lviv is a real center of Ukrainian water polo. “People here not only love the game, but also actively develop it,” – he said.
There are three clubs in the city:
- FC Dynamo,
- “LFCS-Aquatico
- “KIVS”
Also, most rounds of the Ukrainian championship are held in Lviv.
Mr. Svishchov emphasized the powerful ecosystem created in Lviv, which the Federation seeks to scale to other regions of the country. At the same time, he expressed his wishes for infrastructure development: “We dream of a full-fledged water complex in the city. This would give a new impetus to the development of water polo in the city and throughout Ukraine.”
Dreams of victory and gratitude to the defenders
At the end of the interview, Oleksandr Svishchov expressed the common dream of the entire water polo community – victory in the war and peace in Ukraine. He emphasized that this is the foundation for the development of the state, sports and infrastructure. The President of the Federation mentioned the significant losses, including the destroyed pools in Kharkiv, Kyiv and the completely destroyed Neptune pool in Mariupol.
Despite the difficulties, he noted the unity and resilience of the community. The President of the Ukrainian Football Association Oleksandr Svishchov thanked all coaches, officials, and athletes who continue to fight. He expressed special gratitude to the Defense Forces of Ukraine, which defend the country every day, giving them the opportunity to live, work and train.
“We remember our history and want to create a new one. We want to glorify Ukraine and water polo on a global level,” summarized Oleksandr Svishchov.
Oleksandr Svishchov and support for important initiatives
Oleksandr Svishchov’s activities go beyond sports management. He actively supports cultural and military initiatives aimed at strengthening the country.
An example of such support was his help in creating the documentary Hammer, which tells the story of a Ukrainian hero’s feat.
For his significant contribution to this project, Mr. Svishchov received personal gratitude from the military, who emphasized that “only through the joint efforts of the best representatives of Ukrainian society will we be able to liberate the occupied lands.”
