Top 10 needs of Ukraine’s Olympic sports in hostile conditions: a Delphi study

Abstract

Following the tragic events surrounding the war in Ukraine, which started on 24 February 2022, Russian troops have been destroying many Olympic sports infrastructures and athletes and Olympic sports professionals are suffering serious consequences, and sports talents are being lost. Therefore, this Delphi study aimed to identify the most important needs of Ukraine’s Olympic sports in hostile conditions. It sought to formulate priority areas crucial for support during and after the war period, aimed at safeguarding the career prospects of Ukrainian athletes. The study further aimed to identify well-informed priorities for developing Ukraine’s Olympic sports. These priorities, once discerned, can be advocated for promotion and prioritisation in present and future agendas, thereby shaping the course of international support and ensuring the preservation of Ukrainian athletes’ career prospects. A three-round Delphi study was conducted with 42 participants who had expertise as coaches, athletes and researchers (PhD, professor) in sports science. There was a strong panellist agreement on the needs of Ukraine’s Olympic sports in the identified hostile conditions. The list of the final top 10 needs included: (1) ‘Develop and maintain the athlete’s fitness level’; (2) ‘Implementation of a better recovery system for athletes’; and (3) ‘To ensure a safe training place for athletes’. The needs identified in this study are of tremendous value and guide efforts to Ukraine’s sports talents during wartime and, as a result, will guide the international institutions to direct appropriate aid and international support.