Arsen Avakov:The policeman from Lutsk Sergey Torchinsky won the first medal for Ukraine at the Invictus Games-2017! We are proud! (PHOTOS)
The Minister of Internal Affairs visited the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Toronto to support the Ukrainian team. This year Ukraine joined the Games for the first time.
On September 23 in Toronto started international sports competition "Invictus Games". Its participants are servicemen and veterans of military operations with a disability received in the course of their duties.
The opening ceremony took place at Air Canada Center. The honorary guests of the ceremony, in particular, were the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, and the founder of the competition Prince Henry of Wales.
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Before the start of the competition, as a token of friendship and support, the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau personally congratulated our soldiers-athletes.
The first Invictus Games were held in London in 2014. This is the third such competition. However, Ukraine participates in the Games for the first time. Our team consisted of 28 athletes, and 17 of them represent the law enforcement agencies: the National Guard, the National Police, and the State Border Guard Service. Ukrainians compete in six sports: athletics, powerlifting, swimming, archery, rowing on simulators and road cycling.
On September 24 athletics competitions were held. The Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov on behalf of Ukraine presented awards to the wounded chairbound soldiers. And on September 25 the Lutsk police officer won the first medal for Ukraine in the shot put.
In August 2014, 29-year-old Sergei Torchinsky participated in one of the most fierce battles of the ATO - the defense of the Saur-Mogila mound. He received a heavy shrapnel wound in the neck. After rehabilitation, he works as an inspector in the patrol police in the city of Lutsk.
Sergey began to train for competition as soon as he learned about the beginning of the candidate's selection. He chose the shot put and powerlifting. Sergey dreams that after the Invictus Games, Ukrainian military men will be famous not only in their home country but throughout the world.
"The patrol policeman from Lutsk, Sergey Torchinsky, won the first medal for Ukraine at the Invictus Games in Toronto. He did it! During the competition, he dramatically improved his personal record and bypassed many favorites! In athletics competition, Sergey showed the third result in the shot put (13.71 meters) and won the bronze award. The strength of the spirit is stronger than physical disabilities! We are proud of our compatriot", - said the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
Reference:
Invictus Games - international sports competition among servicemen and veterans who were injured or became sick in the course or as a result of performing their duty. The games were founded by Prince Harry (Prince Henry of Wales).
The Latin word Invictus represent the manliness of people who were seriously traumatized or injured but found the strength to return to active life and even to new achievements.
Thanks to the spectacular sports competitions, the Invictus Games contribute to the rehabilitation of wounded fighters, draw attention to the problems of their social adaptation, and promote respect for people who served their country with dignity.
The first Games took place in London in 2014 and became a clear demonstration of capabilities of the military men that protect their country and their indestructible will to live. In 2016, the Games in Orlando repeated the success of the London competition, and in 2017 military athletes met in Toronto. This year the Ukrainian team joined the Invictus Games.
Department of communication of MoIA
