KIEV, December 12, 18:01 /ITAR-TASS/. The political situation in Ukraine has had no impact of the process of training of Ukrainian athletes for the Winter Olympic Games of 2014, Nina Umanets, the chief of the Ukrainian mission to the Sochi Olympics, told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
“Sport is outside politics,” she said. “All athletes who want to take part in the Olympic Games are now at training centers, mostly outside Ukraine.”
“We hope to send 50 or 51 Ukrainian athletes to the Olympic Games in Sochi,” she went on the say. “It has already been decided that the Ukrainian team will include 11 biathletes, six figure skaters and one short-track speed skater.” According to Umanets, the team might also include alpine skiers and cross country skiers.
“The final composition of the national team will be announced by January 20,” she noted. “From February 2, the Sochi organizing committee welcomes athletes from all countries to test the Olympic facilities.” Ukrainian athletes, she said, “are familiar with the sports facilities in Sochi, with the only exception of the ski jump.” “Of course, we shall take the opportunity to once again try the sports infrastructure after February 2,” she said, adding that the exact date of the arrival of Ukrainian athletes would be announced later.