Sienkevych wants to revive orienteering for schoolchildren in Mykolaiv

The Mayor of Mykolaiv wants to revive orienteering in Mykolaiv; photo courtesy of Race Expert

Orienteering competitions for children and young people should be revived in Mykolaiv. This initiative was announced by the mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych, during a staff meeting on 15 June, according to NikVesti.

During a discussion on summer sporting, cultural and entertainment events, the mayor emphasised the importance of active leisure activities for schoolchildren during the holidays. According to the Department of Physical Culture and Sport, 130 events are scheduled to take place in the city between May and 1 September, of which 27 have already taken place in May and June.

At the same time, Oleksandr Sienkevych suggested focusing on the development of orienteering among young people.

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«I remember that when I was a child, we used to do orienteering in the countryside. This is a very topical issue today. Please consider how this might be achieved. I am even prepared to work with you to seek out prizes for the winners from the business community,» he said.

Orienteering is a sport that involves navigating the terrain using a map and compass to find designated control points as quickly as possible.

According to the mayor, in the context of a full-scale war, such skills take on new significance. He noted that orienteering helps children learn to use a compass, navigate the terrain and quickly determine the direction of travel.

«Once the war is over, we will need a strong army. The future soldiers are the children who are at school today. This skill will certainly help them. At the very least, they will understand how to use a compass, where they are and where they need to go,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

In addition, the meeting discussed the organisation of sporting events in the city centre. In particular, there are plans to organise a 3-on-3 streetball tournament on Soborna Square, featuring youth teams. The Department of Housing and Communal Services, the Central District Administration and the municipal services will be involved in preparing for the event; they are responsible for ensuring that the necessary equipment is installed and the area is cleaned.

It should be noted that the Mykolaiv city authorities plan to increase the number of sporting and entertainment events for children and young people during the school holidays this summer.

It was previously reported that over 90 cultural events are planned to take place in Mykolaiv by September.