The new Minister of Youth and Sports, who will be part of the new Cabinet from the parliamentary coalition, will have to implement the reforms.
Ministry of Youth and Sports
Today, Ukraine needs victories. And not just on the front lines. Sport is a strategic sector for Ukraine, its second-most important foreign policy agency. And it requires profound reforms to effectively develop children's and youth sports, train talented and successful athletes, and strengthen the physical strength and health of citizens in challenging times.
The new Minister of Youth and Sports, who will be part of the new Cabinet from the parliamentary coalition, will be responsible for implementing the reforms. The situation our sport finds itself in today is reminiscent of the famous football "Death Match," when Dynamo Kyiv defeated the Luftwaffe in Nazi-occupied Kyiv. That match made history for a reason – at the time, it symbolized our people's victory against the invaders, a triumph of spirit over brute force. The political impact of the match was so profound that the Nazis were forced to eliminate the entire Ukrainian team.
The new Minister of Youth and Sports, in a situation where the country is effectively in a state of war and deep crisis, will have to play his own "death match" and prove that, despite all the challenges, we are capable of winning.
So, who has a chance of becoming the minister of a strategic industry for us in the difficult political conditions for the country?
Current Minister Dmytro Bulatov will likely not retain his portfolio, as President Poroshenko insists on a complete reshuffle of the Cabinet. Bulatov's chances have become even more slim following the Automaidan protesters' revelations about his "pseudo-abduction" during the Euromaidan protests and his falling out with Klitschko. Currently, Bulatov's deputies are essentially shouldering all the systemic work in the ministry.
The first world swimming champion, Dmytro Silantyev, whom Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk wanted to see as a minister, has already recused himself and decided to focus on legislative work in parliament.
As a result, the coalition will have to choose between several potential candidates, including well-known figures with both strengths and weaknesses. We interviewed a number of prominent sports experts, officials, and journalists, who shared their opinions on potential ministers. Let's start with the most likely candidates, according to the experts.
Serhiy Bubka , a renowned athlete, 35-time world record holder in pole vault, Hero of Ukraine, President of the Ukrainian NOC, member of the International Olympic Committee, and a colossal figure in the world of sport.
Sergey Bubka proved his managerial effectiveness by heading the NOC. Thanks to Bubka, the National Olympic Committee was revived, state support increased tenfold, and significant sponsorship funds were attracted to the development of the Olympic movement.
A Minister like Serhiy Bubka would help Ukraine effectively lobby its interests within international sports organizations and attract foreign investment to specific projects and events. The very fact that Bubka is the Minister already enhances our country's reputation in the global sports community. To be fair, it should be noted that the country's prestige will ultimately depend on the athletes' victories, but the Minister's role in their training is no small feat.
Among the weaknesses that could prevent Serhiy Nazarovych from heading the ministry is his political stance. He has been a member of parliament since 2002, first as a member of the ZaEdU bloc and then of the Party of Regions. He was an advisor to the fugitive Yanukovych. Furthermore, Serhiy Bubka was the founder of the scandalous and bankrupt Rodovid Bank, and his appointment as minister today may simply be unfathomable to many.
It also cannot be ruled out that Sergei Bubka, even if offered the chance to head the ministry, may simply refuse, since he intends to compete for the post of President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2015.
Igor Gotsul . The most likely candidate for the post should Bubka for any reason fail to become minister. Experts note his high level of support from the National Olympic Committee, where he serves as vice president, and sports organizations. Gotsul is Bulatov's current deputy minister, a committed reformer, and president of the Ukrainian Athletics Federation.
Critics criticize Gotsul for his lack of success in athletics – this year, Ukrainian athletes finished only seventh in the team event at the European Championships in Zurich, winning two gold, five silver, and one bronze medal. Gotsul's supporters say that, given the current circumstances, this performance can be considered a success.
On the other hand, they say that Gotsul is the initiator and developer of sports reform in the current ministry and understands all the nuances of this complex process like no one else. And since sports reforms are needed today, experts believe that Gutsul is the ideal candidate to implement them.
Igor Gotsul has proven himself a fierce opponent of betrayal by athletes. He responded very harshly to the situation with Crimean Vera Rebrik, who decided to compete for Russia, demanding full compensation from the Russian Federation for all training costs, which amount to approximately $150,000.
Recently, Gotsul managed to navigate complex negotiations with international sports organizations, allowing Ukraine to soon host several international championships. Igor Gotsul's reputation abroad—he worked for four years at the European Athletics Association and was a referee at international competitions for many years—helped him achieve this in a challenging situation for the country.
It's worth noting that Igor Gotsul is fluent in English, which will be useful for establishing contacts at the international level.
Among Gotsul's other achievements, experts note the return of track and field to the Olympic NSC, thanks to the preservation of the running tracks and sectors.
Nikolai Tomenko . An absolutely "politically reliable" candidate, an excellent orator, and a consistent opponent of the previous regime. If nominated, his candidacy could be supported by the presidential bloc, on whose list he entered parliament.
He has an indirect relationship with the Ministry of Youth and Sports; however, as Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, he oversaw this ministry in Tymoshenko's government. In parliament, Tomenko headed the Sports Committee, so his candidacy for the ministerial post is being considered along with others. Furthermore, Mykola Tomenko is the Honorary President of the Biathlon Federation and Vice President of the NOC.
It could be said that his global perspective could be his greatest asset as Minister of Youth and Sports. He could also be an excellent lobbyist for the ministry, thanks to his oratorical skills and political acumen.
At the same time, Nikolai Tomenko is more of a politician than a civil servant, which could have an impact when he has to delve into thousands of details and deal with the daily routine of government.
Regardless, Nikolai Tomenko retains a certain chance of receiving the ministerial portfolio and supporting domestic sports.
Miroslav Dutchak , PhD, professor, serves as First Vice-Rector of the University of Physical Education and Sports. His considerable experience in the ministry is a definite advantage. Of his seven years at the ministry, Miroslav Dutchak spent five as Deputy Minister, under both Yuriy Pavlenko and Ravil Safiullin. Miroslav Dutchak has been in demand under all governments, which speaks to his professionalism and ability to work with any leadership.
Dutchak's intimate knowledge of local realities also speaks in his favor. Having started his career as a physical education teacher and handball coach, he worked his way up from the bottom to the top, and therefore has a keen understanding of the industry's challenges.
On the other hand, Dutchak is neither a respected diplomat like Bubka nor a radical reformer like Gotsul. He is a completely private figure, virtually unknown in political circles, and unlikely to be a successful lobbyist for the sector in the Ministry of Finance or the Verkhovna Rada. He is described as a good apparatchik, an ideal deputy minister, capable of clearing up messes and handling routine work.
Vadim Gutzeit . A talented athlete and businessman, the most decorated Ukrainian sabre fencer, Olympic champion in 1992 as an athlete and in 2008 as a coach.
In addition, Vadim Gutzeit was an international judge and has good connections with foreign colleagues, which also makes him a potentially good lobbyist for the industry.
For a long time, he has been the vice-president of the National Fencing Federation of Ukraine and the director of the main Olympic base in Koncha-Zaspa.
Vadim Gutsait is described as a man who knows how to conduct business and find common ground with everyone. This explains his political neutrality and ability to resolve issues under any government. He is undoubtedly a capable manager and diplomat.
However, experts are concerned that if he is appointed minister, reforms in sports will be abandoned. Furthermore, experts suggest waiting for the official results of the audit at the Olympic base, which, according to some reports, revealed significant violations amounting to hundreds of thousands of hryvnias. Meanwhile, Vadym Gutsait's fleet has been expanded with a new Range Rover SUV in an exclusive configuration worth at least €150.
Experts cite another shortcoming of Vadim Gutsait's tenure as minister as his lack of awareness of youth issues, whose problems also fall within the ministry's purview.
So, barring any unexpected developments, one of these five will become the new Minister of Youth and Sports. The remaining potential candidates mentioned by experts have extremely slim chances due to various circumstances.
Among such candidates, experts noted businessman Artur Palatny, former Party of Regions basketball player Oleksandr Volkov, shot putter Roman Virastyuk (Vasyl Virastyuk's older brother), and Volodymyr Brinzak, president of the Biathlon Federation; former head of the parliamentary "sports committee" Pavlo Kostenko; and president of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee Valeriy Sushkevich.
Be that as it may, the future minister bears a colossal responsibility: winning the "death match" with crisis, corruption, and underfunding amid the war our country is embroiled in. After all, today, sport is one of the few areas where Ukraine is capable of winning and achieving results.
Andrey Myagkov, FROM-UA
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