Metinvest 20: Sports Rhythm of Zaporizhzhia

Zaporizhzhia hosted large-scale cultural and sporting events and, for the first time, implemented social projects that transformed the city and revealed its uniqueness, beauty and strength to both residents and visitors of Zaporizhzhia. After all, the development of communities where the Group's enterprises operate has always been part of the core values of responsible business: the company strengthens the cities where it operates, where employees and their families live, children grow up, and the future of the region is being shaped.

One of the most prominent areas of this work is sports. For years, sports set the pace of city life, brought together thousands of participants at competitions, united professionals and amateurs, locals and visitors, provided thrilling experiences, and transformed Zaporizhzhia into a venue for major sporting events.

Large-scale competitions, family runs, football projects, cycle races and even drone racing – for many years, with the support of Metinvest’s Zaporizhzhia-based enterprises, Zaporizhzhia has become a place where new sporting traditions have been born, a healthy lifestyle has been promoted, and Zaporizhzhia itself has been strengthened, captivating visitors, revealed itself from a new, previously unseen angle, and made people fall in love with it time and time again.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane together and recall the most memorable sporting competitions, records and events that have become part of Zaporizhzhia’s history.

In August 2014, Zaporizhzhia became the world strongman capital. Under the general sponsorship of Metinvest and Zaporizhstal, and under the patronage of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, the World Strongman Championship was held here. Twenty-two athletes from 11 countries around the world – representatives of Ukraine, the Baltic states, Europe and Asia – came to the city.

In 2015, Zaporizhstal took the ‘Metallurg’ football academy under its wing, helping to preserve its traditions and ensure its continued development. Between 2016 and 2019, over 32.5 million hryvnias were channelled into supporting the youth sports school: football pitches at the school were refurbished, the facilities were modernised, and new sports uniform and equipment were purchased. This made it possible to create modern conditions for training and preparing new generations of Zaporizhzhia footballers.

Metinvest created the conditions for the school’s stable operation, where athletes and future stars of Zaporizhzhia football were nurtured.

In May 2017, the Zaporizhstal Dron Racing CUP, the first stage of an open Ukrainian drone racing cup, took place at the Zaporizhstal site. The competition combined sport and modern technology, introducing a new format of sporting competition to Zaporizhzhia.

That same year, the city hosted the Zaporizhstal Half Marathon for the first time. Over 1,500 participants from across Ukraine and abroad took to the starting line. The event became a new sporting hallmark of Zaporizhzhia, and the city confidently established itself on the map of major running events.

The winner of Zaporizhzhia’s first half marathon was Artem Kazban, an athlete from Dnipro, who completed the main distance in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

2018 was a record-breaking year in terms of the number of sporting events and their popularity amongst the residents of Zaporizhzhia.

In May, the family-friendly ‘Vibrant Run’, which was organised to mark the 85th anniversary of Zaporizhstal, attracted over 2,000 participants. A colourful and festive atmosphere and an accessible format turned the run into a true celebration of an active lifestyle.

In July, around a thousand athletes took part in Ukraine’s largest swim across the Dnipro, testing their endurance on one of the country’s most famous swimming routes.

In the autumn, the city hosted the Zaporizhstal Half Marathon for the second time, and the sporting season culminated in the ‘Vibrant Race’, which brought cycling enthusiasts together in the spirit of competition, endurance and team support.

It was during this period that sporting events began to go beyond mere competition and became genuine city-wide celebrations of unity, activity and a healthy lifestyle.

In July 2019, Zaporizhzhia once again hosted Ukraine’s largest mass swim across the Dnipro, which once more confirmed the city’s status as one of the country’s sporting hubs.

In September, the Steel Cup took place – a major cycling event bringing together professionals and amateurs. For many participants, it was an opportunity to test their limits, whilst for the city, it was yet another spectacular sporting celebration.

In July 2019, Zaporizhzhia once again hosted Ukraine’s largest mass swim across the Dnipro, which once more confirmed the city’s status as one of the country’s sporting hubs.

In September, the Steel Cup took place – a major cycling event bringing together professionals and amateurs. For many participants, it was an opportunity to test their limits, whilst for the city, it was yet another spectacular sporting celebration.

The third major half-marathon, the Zaporizhstal Half Marathon – 2019, saw a new record set for the main distance: it was achieved by Roman Romanenko, who finished in a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 14 seconds.

That same year saw the launch of the ‘Come on, play!’ social project, which Metinvest’s Zaporizhzhia-based enterprises implemented in partnership with FC Shakhtar. Qualified coaches ran free training sessions for children at the city’s new, modern sports facilities, helping to nurture a new generation of athletes.

The annual sailing regatta in memory of Vitalii Antonovych Satskyi was a highlight and sporting tradition of the city. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the full-scale war, 2021 marked the last year the regatta was held.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequently the full-scale war, have disrupted the country’s usual rhythm of life. Many sporting projects have been put on hold, but the mere memory of them fills us with positivity and genuine enthusiasm.

The people of Zaporizhzhia remember the days when thousands of athletes ran through the city’s main streets, swimmers conquered the Dnipro, and cycling columns brought together people of all ages and professions. These events have become part of the city’s history and a symbol of an active, peaceful life, filled with movement, emotion and sporting excitement.

Sports projects supported by Metinvest’s companies have become part of Zaporizhzhia’s modern history and have helped shape the image of an open, active and modern city.

After all, sport is not just about records and victories. It is the city’s energy, its character and the people who prove every day that boundless movement begins with the desire to move forward.