A former world champion in parkour was welcomed to Bath last week thanks to B&NES Council’s Friendship Agreement with the Ukrainian City of Oleksandriya.
Anastasia Slastikova, Zhenya Shkil, Cllr Karen Walker, Cllr Michelle O’Doherty, Bohdan Kolmakov and Maria Slastikova | Photo © B&NES Council
Bohdan Kolmakov, who won gold medals in speed at both The World Games and the inaugural Parkour World Championships in 2022, was on an official visit organised by Zhenya Shkil through local group, the Friends of Oleksandriya.
Kolmakov visited Bath to discuss arrangements for several parkour events he will be running later this year in support of the Friends’ fundraising campaign, which aims to raise money for a school bus for Oleksandriya.
During his visit Bohdan met Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sports at the University of Bath, and Amy Hartnell-Saunders from Baskervilles Gymnastics. Both organisations will host parkour events in the autumn.
During his two-day visit, Bohdan also met the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Michelle O’Doherty and the Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Councillor Karen Walker, and visited the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey.
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “The Friendship Agreement has been effective in strengthening links between our communities and I would like to thank Zhenya Shkil for organising the trip on behalf of the Friends of Oleksandriya.
“We were delighted to welcome Bohdan to Bath and we look forward to his return visit in the autumn in support of the Friends’ fundraising campaign.”
The Friendship Agreement was signed last year and although not legally binding, provides a framework to establish and strengthen cultural and other community ties, fostering co-operation based on respect, equality and mutual benefit.
It also promotes awareness between the two communities and identifies environmental, social, cultural, educational, health & wellbeing and other opportunities for joint working.
Local residents have welcomed more than 380 refugees under the government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme and the local authority has played a role alongside charities and voluntary groups to help those guests integrate into the community.
Oleksandriya is a central Ukraine city with a population of approximately 80,000, located in Kirovohrad Oblast within the Kirovohrad region, roughly 350km from Kyiv.
