Athletes have joined forces to promote reading through a new initiative called «Sports Read». The project was presented at the Gulliver shopping mall during the «Books and Arts Fest». This was announced by the director of the Youth and Sports Department of the Kyiv City State Administration, Yulia Khan.

The project features Olympic champions and medalists, including Marina and Vlada Alexeeva, Yulia Bakastova, Evgeny Bogodayko, Oleg Vernyayev, Irina Gerashchenko, and other sports stars who represent Ukraine on the global stage.

The project was photographed by military service member and photographer Oleg Palchik, with makeup artistry by Alina Vizirskaya.

«Reading is essential for mental training, helping to overcome challenges and see new opportunities. Great athletes are shaped not only by hard work, but also by the knowledge they gain off the field. Books are tools that, like sports, strengthen character and open new possibilities,» noted Yulia Khan.

The main goal of this initiative is to engage youth in a healthy lifestyle and teach them the importance of finding a balance between physical and self-development through reading.

During the panel discussion titled «Sports and Reading: Breaking Stereotypes», moderated by well-known Ukrainian presenter Marichka Padalko, athletes shared how much time they dedicate to reading and recommended their favorite motivational books.

«Reading empowers, especially when champions advocate for it. Sports involve not just physical endurance but also strategy, discipline, and knowledge. We aim to encourage youth to embrace the culture of smart habits, combining sports and reading. True victories start not only on the training ground but also in the books that inspire, shape character, and broaden horizons,» said Olympic gymnastics champion Oleg Vernyayev.

Throughout March, literary readings by athletes took place in libraries and schools in Kyiv, attended by over a thousand students. In April, this initiative will continue, and the exhibition of the «Sports Read» photo project will move to other venues and exhibition halls in Kyiv.

The project is organized by the Center for Athlete Support with the backing of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the Youth and Sports Department of the Kyiv City State Administration.