Olympic Dreams in the USA: Miami Reception and Eight Medals at the Panamerican Cup and Open
An official reception for participants of the international sports project Olympic Dreams was held at Miami City Hall (Florida, USA) marking the project's 41st training camp. The United States became the 16th country to host Ukrainian athletes as part of the project launched by The Future for Children Charitable Foundation in 2022.
The event was attended by Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins; Denys Sienik, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Ukraine to the United States; Andriy Futey, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress; Anatoliy Boyko, initiator and patron of Olympic Dreams; Igor Knysh, New York Golden Gloves Champion; singer Mika Newton; Daria Bilodid, a two-time world judo champion and Olympic bronze medalist; members of Ukraine's national judo team; representatives of the Ukrainian community and the sports community; project partners; and members of the Miami City Commission.
Anatoliy Boyko, initiator and patron of Olympic Dreams
"When we launched Olympic Dreams, our goal was to help Ukrainian children and young athletes continue training and developing despite the war. From the very beginning, we sought to establish a structured, long-term initiative to support Ukrainian sport. Today, we can see the results of this work. It is particularly meaningful that the first training camp in the United States is taking place ahead of the international Panamerican Cup and Panamerican Open tournaments in Florida, where Ukrainian athletes are preparing to compete for the first time. We are grateful to our American friends for supporting our athletes and making it possible to expand the geographical reach of Olympic Dreams," said Anatoliy Boyko.
Sports Diplomacy and International Support
During the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of international support for Ukrainian sport, which continues to develop despite the war and the destruction of sports infrastructure.
Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins and members of the Miami City Commission were presented with letters of appreciation on behalf of the Hero City of Irpin. Violetta Dvornikova, Irpin's representative to the European Committee of the Regions, took part in the ceremony. The organizers highlighted the special significance of the sister-city partnership between Irpin and Miami, established in 2022.
Denys Sienik, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Ukraine to the United States, addressed the Ukrainian athletes with words of support and encouragement, emphasizing the important role of sports in strengthening international solidarity with Ukraine.
"Today, you are not simply competing for medals — you are representing Ukraine on the world stage, demonstrating resilience, strength of spirit, and a determination to win even in the most difficult times. Initiatives such as Olympic Dreams go far beyond sports. They serve as an important instrument of sports diplomacy, strengthen Ukraine's partnerships around the world, particularly the United States, and create new opportunities for the next generation of Ukrainian athletes. This is especially significant as we look ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games," emphasized Denys Sienik.
Denys Sienik, Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Ukraine to the United States; Eileen Higgins, Mayor of Miami; and Anatoliy Boyko, initiator and patron of Olympic Dreams
Another symbol of Ukrainian-American friendship was the book History of Ukraine, personally signed by Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska and presented during the event as a token of gratitude to the American people for their support of Ukraine.
Andriy Futey, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress and former President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, who co-organized the meeting, also addressed the reception participants.
Oleksii Nikitenko, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, addressed the participants in a video message and wished the Ukrainian team success in their upcoming competitions.
The reception in Miami marked another step forward in the development of Olympic Dreams' international cooperation, bringing together diplomats, government representatives, members of the sports community, and the Ukrainian diaspora around a shared goal: supporting Ukrainian athletes and preserving Ukraine's Olympic future.
Eight Medals at the Panamerican Cup and Open
Following the official events in Miami, the Ukrainian judokas traveled to Gainesville, Florida, where they continued their sporting mission as part of the international Olympic Dreams project and won several medals at the prestigious Panamerican Cup and Panamerican Open competitions.
At the end of the tournaments, Ukrainian athletes won eight medals in different age categories — one gold and seven bronze.
The Ukrainian team with coaches Oleksandra Starkova, Karen Balayan, and Gennadiy Bilodid
In the cadet category, Yana Dovhun won the gold medal after defeating opponents from Canada and Mexico. Viktoriia Danylenko, Amir Mushyk, and Maksym Habelok earned bronze medals.
In the junior category, Serhii Karakin and Rostyslav Marynych claimed bronze medals. Karina Desiatnyk finished fifth, while Aristarkh Bielan placed seventh.
In the senior category, Denys Tupytskyi and Davlatzhon Mamadov won bronze medals.
These achievements marked a successful conclusion to the American stage of Olympic Dreams, once again demonstrating that international support for Ukrainian athletes is an important investment in the future of Olympic sport in Ukraine.
About Olympic Dreams
Olympic Dreams is an international charitable sports project launched in March 2022 by The Future for Children Charitable Foundation. Its mission is to support Ukrainian children and young athletes, particularly those from regions affected by the war, by organizing training camps abroad, promoting international sports cooperation, and preserving Ukraine's Olympic talent pool.