Ukraine’s “Volia” Among the Democratic Values in Sport Identified Through the European VALUE COMPASS Project (15.09.2026, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Representatives of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine took part in the European Value-Exploration Workshop on democratic values in sport, held in Sarajevo on 15 September. VALUE COMPASS project partners narrowed down the 43 values proposed during national discussions to a shortlist of 19. Among them was “Volia” — a value identified by the Ukrainian sporting community.
VALUE COMPASS is an international project that helps sports organisations embed democratic values in their everyday work. These include equal opportunities in sport, athlete participation in decision-making, transparent governance, respect for human dignity and responsibility. Together, the partners are developing shared definitions of these values, a practical guide and a digital self-assessment tool to help sports organisations reflect on their practices and identify areas for improvement.
Running from 2026 to 2027, the project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Sport programme. It brings together the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the National Olympic Committees of Ukraine, Poland, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bielefeld University and kultwerk GmbH.
The Sarajevo workshop marked the transition from national discussions to a shared European understanding. Participants compared experiences across their countries, refined the meanings of the values and explored how they could be put into practice in sport.
Ukraine’s contribution was developed during a national workshop held at Olympic House in Kyiv on 17 June 2026. Its 26 participants, representing almost every key stakeholder group in Ukraine’s sporting ecosystem, identified ten values, with “Volia” holding particular significance.
At the European workshop, the concept retained its Ukrainian name — Volia — reflecting the combination of freedom, inner determination and the capacity to act responsibly. In sport, this means choosing one’s own path, pursuing goals with perseverance and standing up for one’s principles while respecting the rights and dignity of others.
Olga Danko, VALUE COMPASS Project Lead at the NOC of Ukraine, said: “For the NOC of Ukraine, it was important to convey the depth of ‘Volia’ — the combination of freedom of choice, inner strength and responsibility for one’s actions. When democracy is put to the test, the willingness to defend its values becomes especially important. Including ‘Volia’ in the shared list gives us an opportunity to build on Ukraine’s experience alongside our European partners and explore how it can be put into practice in sport.”
In resisting Russian aggression, Ukraine is defending its independence, freedom and right to a democratic future. This experience gives “Volia” particular significance and makes it relevant to the wider European dialogue in politically turbulent times.
The importance of actively defending democracy is also recognised in Germany, Poland, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, where strengthening democracy’s ability to defend itself involves countering extremism and supporting democratic participation. For the sporting community, this responsibility means being prepared to challenge discrimination, uphold people’s right to be heard and apply democratic principles in everyday decisions.
“Ukraine is defending its freedom and its right to a democratic future. Every day, our athletes demonstrate resilience, determination and mutual support. It matters that Ukraine’s experience is contributing to a shared European understanding of democratic values in sport. We want to see these values translated into concrete action by sports organisations,” said Vadym Guttsait, President of the NOC of Ukraine.
The provisional list comprises cooperation, fairness in sport, inclusion, freedom, participation, accountability, responsibility, equality, solidarity, respect, dignity, self-efficacy, honesty, transparency, integrity, development, tolerance, Volia, and recognition and appreciation of the contributions made by individuals and organisations.
Bielefeld University will now refine the wording and group related values into thematic clusters. The partners will use this foundation to develop practical guidance and a digital tool for sports organisations.
The NOC of Ukraine will continue contributing to the project’s resources, ensuring that Ukraine’s perspective is reflected in the shared outcomes and that the resulting approaches can be applied within Ukrainian sport.
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VALUE COMPASS is a cooperation project co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport programme. The project runs from January 2026 to December 2027 and aims to establish a shared vision and practical implementation of democratic values in sport across Europe. Its results are designed to be used by National Olympic Committees, sports federations, regional organizations, clubs, and volunteers in various countries.
Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.