On the 111th anniversary of the first official water polo match in Ukraine, the president of the relevant federation, Oleksandr Svishchov, spoke about historical parallels, current challenges and plans for the future, emphasising Lviv’s key role in preserving and developing the sport.
A historical parallel: 111 years of resilience
On 26 July 1914, the first official water polo match in the history of Ukraine between two teams of the LKS Pogon took place at the Pelchyn Ponds in Lviv and ended in a 1-1 draw. This event laid the foundation for the development of the game, but two days later, the First World War broke out, which put sports life on hold for a long time.
The President of the Ukrainian Water Polo Federation, Oleksandr Svishchov, draws a parallel with the present. “Today we live in an extremely difficult time – a full-scale war. And our sport is under threat,” he said.
According to him, many leading teams and players come from the eastern regions:
- Kharkiv,
- Kramatorsk,
- Mariupol.
These cities were the first to feel the blows of Russian aggression.
“The Ukrainian Water Polo Federation has done everything possible to save these teams, children and athletes. For us, the main task was to prevent the game from disappearing and to maintain its continuity,” said Svishchov.
Lviv is the mainstay of Ukrainian water polo
According to the president of the federation, in difficult times, Lviv became a real centre of Ukrainian water polo. Today, three clubs are based in the city – Dynamo, LFCS-Aquatico and KIVS – and most of the national championship rounds are held here.
“Lviv is a real centre of Ukrainian water polo. People here not only love the game, but also actively develop it. A powerful ecosystem has been created in Lviv, which we are striving to scale to other regions of the country,” said Oleksandr Svishchov.
Mr Svishchov acknowledged that the city lacks modern infrastructure to ensure further growth. “We dream of having a full-fledged aquatic complex in the city. This would give a new impetus to the development of water polo both in the city and throughout Ukraine,” he added.
Oleksandr Svishchov: Investing in the future and believing in victory
Despite the war, the federation and its leader continue to invest in the future. Thanks to the investments of Oleksandr Svishchov, a modern sports complex Leoland was opened in Lviv in 2022 and has become a platform for the development of young talents. In particular, master classes for more than 160 children have already been held here twice with the participation of Ukrainian tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Serhiy Stakhovsky.
“We will continue to invest in our youth and sports, as this is the basis for the future of Ukraine,” said Svishchov.
Speaking about the main challenges, Mr Svishchov noted that the entire sports community dreams of one thing – Ukraine’s victory. The war has dealt a devastating blow to the infrastructure: swimming pools in Kharkiv and Kyiv were damaged, and the Neptune swimming pool in Mariupol was destroyed to the ground.
“But even in these difficult times, we stand together, side by side. I would like to thank all the coaches, officials, and athletes who do not give up. And the biggest thanks go to our Defence Forces, who defend the country every day and give us the opportunity to live, work and train. We remember our history and want to create a new one. To glorify Ukraine and water polo at the global level,” summed up the President of the Federation.
