The competition took place in the Arabian Gulf and brought together participants from various countries. This was reported by the Ukrainian community in the UAE. 
For the Ukrainian athletes, the swim was not only a physical challenge but also a way to show resilience and the will to win despite the injuries and losses they have endured.
Support on shore and from the organisers
At the finish, the veterans were met by representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in the UAE and friends of Ukraine. With flags and words of encouragement, they accompanied the team to the start, during the swim and after it ended.
The organisers also showed solidarity with the Ukrainians. The OCEANMAN leadership, including executive director Fermín Egido and Dubai stage director Amandos Linardos, accommodated the participants from Ukraine by providing support in Ukrainian and even making changes to the event programme.
Who helped
The trip and the team’s preparation were organised by the non-governmental organisation Iron Will, which works on the rehabilitation of veterans through sport. Support was also provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UAE and the Sushko Foundation.
According to representatives of the Ukrainian community in the Emirates, the veterans’ participation in such a large international event was a vivid example of how Ukraine presents itself to the world not only through the pain of war, but also through strength of spirit and the ability to win.
The event in Dubai united the Ukrainian community abroad and showed that support for veterans is not a one-off action but ongoing work carried out by volunteers, diplomats and ordinary people in different corners of the world.
