An international sports conference, organised virtually from Ukraine under the title “Youth and the Olympic Movement”, took place on May 19 and 20, involving participation from the European University Sports Association.

The international conference had the backing of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine and the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport, under the patronage of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

Despite the current global pandemic, organisers made the most of the opportunity to hold the conference in an online format, involving well-known scientists and experts not only from Ukraine, but from several countries across the world including Belarus, Belgium, Moldova and Poland.

The conference was officially opened following the welcome address from National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport Rector Mr Evhenij Imass, followed by the first plenary session.



EUSA President Mr Adam Roczek, as an invited speaker, delivered a presentation under the topic “University Sport – The Gateway to the Olympics”. Mr Roczek spoke of the synergy which exists between Olympic and University sport movement, highlighting the fact that numerous Olympians come through the university sport ranks, while also addressing the positive impact of universities and organisers of university sports events.

The conference continued with presentations on a variety of topics, including the legal, organisational, social, environmental and economic aspects of modern sport; socio-philosophical, historical, psychological and pedagogical aspects of Olympic education and discussions surrounding the issues of modern sports training.



The second day of the conference began with presentations on the medical and biological aspects of Olympic sport, advanced practices and innovations of modern sports medicine, physical therapy and occupational therapy, following which the topic moved on to theory and practice of sport for all and finally, findings of scientific research and development in the sphere of physical culture and sport ahead of the concluding plenary session and closing ceremony.