Solutions from Ukraine: Voila Space opens at 2024 Olympics to popularize Ukrainian culture and shine light on Russian invasion

During the 2024 Olympic Games, a cultural showcase of Ukraine called Volia Space made its debut in the French capital. The purpose of this exhibit was to promote Ukrainian culture and raise awareness about the Russian invasion.

The Associated Press reports this.

Ukrainian House Volia Space is one of 15 holiday clubs of national teams in La Villette Park, which is a cultural international exhibition on the outskirts of Paris. Guests will be presented with:

• traditional Ukrainian cuisine,
• performances by artists, athletes and diplomats.

The Minister of Sports of Ukraine, Matvyi Bidniy, called the space "the headquarters of Ukraine in Paris during the Olympic Games."

"For Ukraine, the Olympics is first of all a big screen for the world. We remind the world that Ukraine exists, fights and is capable of winning. The very fact that Ukraine is represented at the Olympics during a full-scale war is a great demonstration of willpower," the deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Olena Kovalska, noted at the opening of the Ukrainian House.

Specifically, Volia Space will offer the opportunity to watch the Academy Award-winning Ukrainian film "20 Days in Mariupol" and several other documentaries. These include "Soldiers of Song" directed by Ryan Smith, "Jamala. Songs of Freedom" produced by Voice of America, "La Flamme Ukrainienne" directed by Benjamin Montel and Antonin Boutinard Rouelle, "Children of Bomb Shelters" directed by Yulian Ulybin, and "Long Day" directed by Alan Badoev. Audience members will have the chance to communicate with the filmmakers and some of the featured individuals.

According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, singer Jamala performed on the stage of the Ukrainian House on Sunday, July 28. In addition, there were screenings of the films "Culture Quest. Ukraine", "Jamala. Songs of Freedom" and "Soldiers of Song" by Ryan Smith

^{Photo: Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine}

The space will be open until August 10, and the organizers have prepared a presentation program of Ukrainian culture for each day. Guests and fans will also be treated to Ukrainian borscht, declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

For reference: 

Ukrainian documentary filmmakers have made significant strides in portraying the reality of the war in Ukraine. In early 2024, their film "20 Days in Mariupol" earned the first-ever Oscar for Ukrainians. Collaborating with Vasilisa Stepanenko and Yevgeniy Maloletka, Mstyslav Chernov captured the first 20 days of the city during the initial phase of the invasion and then used this footage to create a powerful and widely viewed film that reached audiences around the globe.

Last year, the Ukrainian-Danish film "House of Rocks" about the life of a children's shelter in Lysychansk, Luhansk region, was also nominated for an Oscar.

Oleh Sentsov, a former prisoner of the Kremlin and military veteran, recently screened his film "Real" at the International Film Festival in Karlovy Vary. As the director had previously shared, the film came about by chance, as it was captured on a tactical camera and depicts the efforts of Ukrainian soldiers to rescue their comrades.

The 81st Venice International Film Festival will feature the highly anticipated world debut of director Olha Zhurba's latest film, "Songs of the Slowly Burning Land." This film offers a unique portrayal of Ukrainian life during the first two years of the devastating Russian invasion. Through a powerful mosaic of wartime experiences, the film captures the evolution of society as it transitions from the initial panic of war to the eventual acceptance of death and destruction as a tragic norm for Ukrainians.

It should be noted that on July 26, the opening ceremony of the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games was held in the capital of France, Paris, officially kicking off the biggest sports event in the world. This year, for the first time, the celebrations were held not at the stadium, but on the water.

Tennis player Elina Svitolina and swimmer Mykhailo Romanchuk carried the Ukrainian flag at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.