On February 15 Ukraine House in Vancouver held a reception in honor of the Ukrainian National Olympic Team and their participation in the XXI "White" Olympics. This type of special reception has already become a tradition during the Olympic Games since the first reception was held in Turin in 2006.

Among those who visited the home in Canada of the Ukrainian Olympic family were many distinguished guests including the Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee Juan Antonio Samaranch, members of the IOC, representatives of the Olympic committees from various countries and members of the official Olympic delegations.

Along with them, the Ukrainian free-style team led by head coach Halyna Dosova, coaches from several other sports and members of the official delegation of Ukraine were present at Ukraine House. The President of the NOC of Ukraine Serhiy Bubka and the Minister of Family, Youth and Sports Yuriy Pavlenko welcomed the special visitors.

Welcoming the members of the international Olympic family, Serhiy Bubka, the chief Olympian of Ukraine said, "Relations between Canada and Ukraine are very strong. I am pleased that more than 1,300,000 residents of the Maple Leaf Country have Ukrainian roots".

"We consider our participation in these Olympic Games an impetus for further development of winter sports in our country. I am honored to convey to you, greetings on the occasion of this grand sporting event from the newly elected President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich, who once also headed the NOC of Ukraine and understands well the importance of sport for the development of our nation", stated the Head of the Ukrainian Olympic movement.

Welcoming the distinguished guests, Minister of Ukraine for Family, Youth and Sports Yuriy Pavlenko recalled that at the previous Olympics in Beijing after the traditional reception was held, the Ukrainian athletes won their first gold medals. "So, he said, let us cheer for the Ukrainian Olympians and wish them great success in Vancouver".

Juan Antonio Samaranch, Honorary President of the IOC, greeted the entire Olympic family of Ukraine in his address, “I have long and good relations with Ukrainian Olympians. Your country is a major contributor to the development of the Olympic movement in the world. Especially important is that your National Olympic Committee is led by an outstanding athlete of our time, one of the best athletes in history, my friend Serhiy Bubka. I wish your team good luck and many victories.”

As the evening continued, the guests mingled in a warm and friendly atmosphere, tasted delicious Ukrainian cuisine and praised the hospitality of their hosts – the NOC of Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.