Sometime in year 2002 then President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma declared "European Choice" program that set goal for Ukraine to reach associate membership in European Union by year 2011. My first reaction was not to question whether Ukraine qualifies or has mature enough democratic processes and institutions, but simply why Associate and not Full membership. Why goal is set low?
Impromptu brainstorming session at UkrNet, internet service provider i worked for then, revealed unanimous support for European Choice among colleagues. On the way home daydreaming about new opportunities that membership in European Union will open for Ukraine, and especially for my hometown Uzhgorod, i noticed Olympic rings printed in newspaper. The most craziest idea hit me - for Ukraine to achieve full membership in European Union is to host Olympic Games 2012, and not alone but with cooperation with western neighbors: Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
5 Olympic rings mapped to 5 countries represented by 5 cities:
The fact that only Ukraine has borders with all other countries would grant Uzhgorod a status of official capital of Olympic Games.
As fast as the idea came to mind more than decade ago that fast it was forgotten... Well until last August when London Olympic Games resurfaced old dream.
Interestingly enough at the same time my hometown friend Andrey Shovargo and cousin Ruslan Kopcha were discussing idea to establish non-profit organization to support youth involvement in sports for quite a while, since December 2011.
After short discussion and few weeks of legal paperwork on September 14, 2012 non-profit organization "Olympic Generation" was founded in Uzhgorod, Ukraine.
And although "Olympic Generation" goal is nowhere close to Olympic Games, it's definitely a spark in right direction to eventually start Olympic flame in Eastern Europe!
And although "Olympic Generation" goal is nowhere close to Olympic Games, it's definitely a spark in right direction to eventually start Olympic flame in Eastern Europe!
“It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.” Paulo Coelho
Roman Havrylyak
