President presented awards to the winners of the football tournament among children's teams and a tournament among the teams of ATO participants in Kherson region

President Petro Poroshenko presented awards to the winners of the regional football tournament among children's and youth teams and the regional tournament between ATO participants’ teams devoted to the Day of the Defender of Ukraine in the framework of the working visit to Kherson region.

"It is a great pleasure to be at this stadium today, to congratulate the young players and, first of all, to congratulate the champions and winners," the Head of State addressed the participants of the ceremony.

The President stressed that the ceremony took place at the reconstructed stadium. "Look at the changes that took place with this stadium. I was told that up to 170 children had been training at this stadium before the reconstruction. Today, the number of children has significantly exceeded 800," he said.

Petro Poroshenko added that the tournaments were being held at the stadium, and not only those for children, but also for ATO participants. "Our soldiers, our veterans confirm an active role in the life of our state," the Head of State emphasized and congratulated the regional and all-Ukrainian Federation on these achievements.

"By the way, Ukraine returns the status of a football state. I want to thank everyone who was involved in holding the UEFA Champions League Final in Ukraine this May," he said.

The President also presented a certificate for the beginning of the construction of the new Tavriya stadium for Tavriya football club and children's football academy. "And not just a certificate, we are committing that the new stadium will be built. And football players of Crimea will feel that Ukraine cares about them and remembers them," Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State remarked that football players of Crimea, the Football Federation of Crimea dreamed and asked for the construction of a new stadium, where football players of Ukrainian Crimea will be able to train. "And let the Ukrainian Crimea, which is still occupied, hear that we remember them. We will do everything for Ukraine to return to Crimea, and Crimea to return to Ukraine," Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State together with the President of the Football Federation of Ukraine presented a football uniform for Tavriya Simferopol FC and the Children's Football Academy for children of IDPs from Crimea.

In turn, the captain of Tavriya Simferopol FC presented Petro Poroshenko a T-shirt of the club. The Head of State thanked and noted: "There is a key inscription on the T-shirts of Tavriya: “Crimea is Ukraine".