IPC grant helping build the future of Para ice hockey in Hungary and Ukraine

When Alex Morvai took to the ice at the World Para Ice Hockey Skills Development camp, he realised right away that it is a sport that he wants to pursue and become a Paralympic champion in one day.

The Hungarian athlete tried the sport for the first time during a five-day training camp in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia, with the support of a grant from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

“I always try to do my best because one day I want to be a champion. It’s a long way to go, but I will always keep pushing,” he said.

The IPC grant helped 12 athletes and four team officials from Hungary and Ukraine – teams that are new to the sport – to participate in the development camp, which was organised by World Para Ice Hockey and hosted by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Slovakia.

Roman Hapachylo, Ukraine’s Para ice hockey team leader, said, “To be honest, it was the biggest surprise for me that we were invited by the international Para ice hockey federation. It was the first time our flag was in any Para hockey event.”