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Kyiv, August 9, 2012. On September 14-24, 2013, Ukraine will host the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships for the first time since the tournament started in 1963. Today, the Ukrainian government approved the organizing committee, which will include top managers in the public sector as well as the sports industry experts.
The International Gymnastics Federation explained that Ukraine deserved the honor of hosting this major sports event by being “a country that boasts such a rich Gymnastics tradition and has long been one of Rhythmic Gymnastics’ leading lights”.
Largely, Ukraine owes its rhythmic gymnastics champions to the celebrated school founded and led by Albina Deriugina and her daughter Irina, who herself was an absolute world champion in 1977 and 1979. World rhythmic gymnastics champions from Ukraine include Hanna Bessonova (2001, 2003, 2007), Tamara Yerofeeva (2001, 2002), and Olena Vitrychenko (1994-1997, 1999).
The legendary Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Kateryna Serebrianska was a multiple world champion in 1993 through 1996. The athlete made history in Atlanta at the 1996 Summer Olympics as she won gold in all-round competition.
The upcoming rhythmic gymnastics competition will take place in Kyiv’s Palats Sportu (Palace of Sports). The venue was renovated to host the 50th Eurovision Song Contest, and has seen numerous high profile sports and cultural events since. Just in April 2012, the venue hosted World Fencing Championships. In February 2012, Euro Ice Hockey Challenge took place at Palats Sportu.
Opened in 1960, Palats Sportu hosted 16 world championships, nearly 30 European championships, 30 Euro Cups, as well as became the host for concerts by Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Moby, et al.
After hosting EURO 2012, Ukraine is ready for more sport events. In 2015, the Ukrainian cities of Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odesa will host the games of the EuroBasket.
In 2014, the Eastern European country plans to bid for hosting the 2022 Winter Olympic. Notably, the International Olympic Committee has already welcomed that intention. In late 2010, Ukraine launched a National Project Olympic Hope, aimed at preparing the country’s infrastructure for the application requirements. The project’s estimated worth is USD 10 billion.