A send-off for Ukraine's Olympians (08/15/04)

A send-off for Ukraine's Olympians

KYIV - A couple of thousand people gathered on Independence Square in Kyiv on August 10 for a gala send-off for the 243 athletes who comprise Ukraine's Olympic team as they prepared to leave for the 28th Olympic Games, which were to begin in Athens on August 13. The team will be competing in 19 of the 28 events that will make up these Olympics and vying for more than simply the gold, silver and bronze medals awarded the top finishers. As Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych - who is also president of the National Olympic Committee - noted, that day the Cabinet of Ministers had raised the monetary rewards it would present to Ukrainian Olympians capturing the top three spots in their events to $100,000 for a gold medal, $70,000 for a silver and $50,000 for a bronze. In previous Olympics, the top monetary prize was $50,000 for a gold medal. Ukraine is hoping to finish in the top 15 in this year's Games in Greece and is counting on winning five gold medals.

- Roman Woronowycz

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