Ukraine Deaf National Orienteering Team, which was in Antalya for the orienteering competitions, could not return to their countries due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The Ukraine National Team, which was contacted through the İnegöl Municipality Orienteering Team, which participated in the same competitions, was invited to İnegöl. İnegöl Municipality is hosting a group of 16 people at DOSTUM facilities.
The National Deaf Orienteering Team of Ukraine came to Turkey to participate in the camps and competitions held in Antalya between 17-28 February. Inegol Municipality Orienteering Team, which participated in the same competitions, took care of the 16-person group that could not return to their countries due to the Russia-Ukraine war. After contacting the Mayor of İnegöl, Alper Taban, the National Deaf Orienteering Team of Ukraine was invited to İnegöl. Trainer Thacenko Vasily and the athletes, who could not return to their countries due to the war, were brought to İnegöl by İnegöl Municipality vehicle on Sunday evening. İnegöl Municipality opened the accommodation facilities of the Nature Sports and Tourism Center (DOSTUM) for athletes. Ukrainian athletes, who came to the district by bus, were greeted by Mayor Alper Taban.
“WE WILL WELCOME YOU IN THE BEST WAY”
Making a statement here, the Mayor of İnegöl Alper Taban said that the athletes of the municipality also camped in Antalya and that they were aware of the issue through them. Stating that the athletes who could not return to their countries would be hosted by the Municipality of İnegöl, Mayor Taban said, “We are hosting our guests at our facilities this evening. We have our hearing-impaired sportsman friends who came to our country from Ukraine for the orienteering races. There is a team of 16 people here. Our technical coach Vasily and his team are here. They took part in the same races and camps as our İnegöl Municipality Sports Club Orienteering team. Meanwhile, they could not return to their countries due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. They say that they have 4 friends who left the group. Our friends who are here now cannot return to their homes, so we told them that we can host them. They also accepted. “We brought the group to our facilities with our bus. I hope we will accommodate them in the best way possible,” he said.
“I HOPE THE WAR TO END A MOMENT”
Emphasizing that they want the war to end as soon as possible, President Taban said, “Our guests here are our hearing-impaired athletes. Of course, their morale is low. They are trying to contact their families over the internet or by texting. I hope that our President has initiatives in this regard and that the war will stop as soon as possible.” We expressed that they strive for a solution. We expressed that they can stay here in peace and security, and that we can meet whatever needs they need. I hope our friends are guests of our city from this evening. I would also like to thank our colleagues who have been taking care of our guests from the very beginning. I hope on this occasion that the war will come as soon as possible. I hope it ends,” he said.
“WE ARE GRATEFUL TO INEGOL MUNICIPALITY”
Ukraine Deaf Orienteering National Team Coach Thacenko Vasily said, “We thank İnegöl and our mayor for their warm welcome. The war is a very bad situation. We wish this to end as soon as possible and return to our country. The situation with our families is bad. But something happens while we are here. “We can’t. We want to return to our country as soon as possible. The team of İnegöl in Antalya took care of us. They contacted us here and invited us to their city,” he said.