Young Athletes Shine at International Children's Games
Young athletes from Odessa have successfully returned from the 57th International Children's Games held in Tallinn, Estonia.
This year, the games brought together around 900 participants from 70 cities worldwide, with Odessa proudly joining for the first time.
The competition featured 7 sports: 3x3 basketball, beach volleyball, judo, swimming, athletics, fencing, and soccer.
The Odessa athletes competed in swimming and 3x3 basketball, achieving remarkable results.
The first medal for the Odessa team was secured by Anastasia Marina, who won gold in the 50-meter butterfly swimming event.
Ivan Ryaduev took 1st place in the 100m freestyle with a personal best of 51.86 seconds, which also set a new record for Ukraine.
In the mixed relay (combined style), the Odessa team finished 5th out of 28 teams.
In the 3x3 basketball event, both teams (boys and girls) performed well in the group stages and advanced to the playoffs.
A touching tradition of exchanging souvenirs started at the first International Children's Games in 1968, representing the pride of having athletes from 73 cities across 28 countries showcasing the colors of their respective flags.
The International Children's Games symbolize more than just sports; they embody friendship, unity, respect, and new friendships.
Odessa expresses its heartfelt gratitude to its Estonian partner Tallinn for facilitating this sports exchange for young athletes.
The participation of the Odessa team in the 57th International Children's Games was made possible with the support of the Department of International Cooperation, Culture and Marketing, and the Department of Physical Culture and Sports of the Odessa City Council.
