Cheering on Ukraine’s Olympians

 The inscription У.К.Р.А.Ї.Н.А. (Ukraine), made of giant blue letters on Troyitska Square near Olympic stadium in Kyiv, is the latest way to cheer on the nation’s athletes in London.

It was added just before the Opening Ceremony of the XXX Olympiad in London on July 27.  

During the Olympics, people are encouraged to write their wishes to Ukrainian athletes on yellow stickers and attach them to the letters.

Among those who have shared their good wishes are champions of previous Olympic Games -- shot putter Yuriy Belonog and gymnast Valeri Goncharov.

 “I wish them good luck,” Belonog said to reporters. “It’s a short but proud wish.”

Goncharov wrote: “Don’t feel shy when you win and do it (winning) with satisfaction. It will definitely help.”    

Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee and other organizers hope that the inscription will eventually resemble the Ukrainian national flag of blue and yellow.

Denis Rafalsky