The idea of holding the unique Orlykiadas arose in the early 1960s. The inspirer and driving force behind this initiative was the well-known Plast leader in the USA, Andronik Kopystiansky. His boundless love for Orlykiada is evidenced by the fact that from the very founding (in 1962) until 1981 he did not miss a single one, and was always active and engaged in its organization and running. The magazine “Yunak” wrote about him as follows: “For the first time, the creator of Orlykiada and kurinnyi of the UPS Kurin named after Hryhorii Orlyk, late Plast sen. Andronik Kopystiansky, was not present at this Orlykiada, as illness did not allow him to experience that rare jubilee.” So could the idea of Orlykiada possibly fail, when it had and still has such illustrious creators?
To better understand the role and stature of the founder of the Orlykiadas, it is worth at least outlining some basic biographical details. Here is a brief historical note from the journal “Plastovyi Shliakh”: “Andronik Kopystiansky – Plast sen. leader, member, organizer and long‑time kurinnyi of the 8th Kurin named after Hryhor Orlyk, co‑founder of the Plast branch in Hempstead, New York State, recipient of the Order of St. George in Gold, former head of the National UPS, former administrator of the Plast camp ‘Vovcha Tropa’ (‘Wolf’s Trail’), long‑time head of the board of the ‘Molode Zhyttia’ (‘Young Life’) corporation. Initiator of the ‘Plast Orlykiadas’ since 1962. He died on December 21, 1981, in Hempstead, New York State, at the age of 71.”
Truly, with such a founder and like‑minded Plast members, the idea of holding Orlykiada lives on to this day. In particular, our attention is drawn to the 57th Orlykiada (an intellectual and artistic Plast competition) held in 2019 in the USA. The theme of the competition was: “Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!”. It was a fantastic event that brought together Ukrainians around the world and resounded loudly in the USA and other countries.
The theme of sport at other Orlykiadas
At the same time, it is worth noting that the theme of sport has always been relevant for Plast, since physical education, sport and Olympic traditions are an integral part of a Plast member’s upbringing. Therefore, among the exhibits at the 40th Orlykiada (2001) in the USA, whose theme was “10 Years of Ukraine’s Independence”, there were also sports and Olympic motifs. The creators of these exhibits focused especially on Ukraine and the Olympic Games (in particular, there were skates signed by Oksana Baiul, the first Olympic champion in the period after Ukraine regained independence). The exhibit presented the history of Ukraine’s participation in the Olympic Games, Olympic athletes of independent Ukraine (photos and short biographies), and a list of medals won by Ukrainian teams’ athletes, among other things. The exhibit was prepared by the boys of the 5th Kurin named after Hetman Koshovyi Konashevych‑Sahaidachny from Newark: Stefan Stanko, Danylo Peleschuk, Adriian Kokhan, Markiian Hadzevych, Lesyk Myskyv, Mykhailo Kolodii, Myron Radovych, Danylo Martynets, Oles Mandych, Andrii Yavorskyi, Roman Lesko.
How they prepared for Orlykiada 2019
Preparation for Orlykiada 2019 began well in advance. The organizers turned to me and my colleagues in Ukraine for consultation and assistance in collecting and systematizing materials on the history of Ukrainian sport from the earliest times to the present. We sent them our materials, which significantly helped the participants.
Ms. Renata wrote me a letter with the following request: “Hello, dear colleagues in sport… I need your help. A Plastunka Tanya from America reached out to me. She is organizing the annual competition ‘Orlykiada’ – a knowledge contest about Ukraine for Plast members in America. This year’s theme is SPORT.” This detailed information was being prepared by the organizers for the participants of Orlykiada.
The organizers prepared this detailed information for the participants of the Orlikiyada.
The 8th UPS Kurin “Orlykivtsi” named after Hryhor and Pylyp Orlyk issued a circular back in September specifically dedicated to Orlykiada 2019. The kurin addressed the leadership of the branches and youth units in: Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Washington, Winnipeg, Hartford, Detroit, Edmonton, Yonkers, Kerhonkson, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, Newark, Passaic, Rochester, Syracuse, Seattle, Toronto, Philadelphia, Chicago. One can only imagine the scale of Plast members’ involvement in organizing and conducting Orlykiada.
In the circular, the organizers wrote: “Dear friends! We invite you to take part in the competition of the 57th Orlykiada, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday, November 9 and 10, 2019, at the Soyuzivka resort of the Ukrainian National Association in Kerhonkson, NY.” The participants were, of course, informed in advance about the theme of that year’s Orlykiada – “Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!”. The structure of the competition and the scoring system were based on four components: intellectual competition (30%), artistic performance (30%), exhibit (30%), and Plast bearing (10%). The circular also contained other details of the event and conditions for participation.
Naturally, all informational resources of Plast in the USA, Ukraine and worldwide published extensive, detailed or shorter mentions about this unique event – the 2019 Orlykiada. The “Ukrainian Plast” website reported: “On November 9–10, 2019, at the Soyuzivka resort near Kerhonkson, NY, the 57th Orlykiada – a youth artistic competition – took place. This year’s theme was ‘Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!’. Within the framework of Orlykiada, the artistic performance, exhibit, intellectual competition and Plast bearing were evaluated. Third place went to the boys from the Cleveland branch – the 17th Kurin named after Bayda Vyshnevetsky (kurin liaison Plast sen. Marko Yakubovych, LCh). Second place went to the boys from the New York branch – the 3rd UPUY Kurin named after Hetman Ivan Mazepa (kurin liaison st. Plast. Pavlo Temnytsky). First place overall was awarded to the girls from Cleveland – the 28th Kurin named after Princess Olha (kurin liaison st. Plast., hetm. wirl. Taisia Zapernyk‑Bay, ShOK). The Hetmanych title went to Plast. rov. Pavlo Pentsak (5th UPUY Kurin named after Petro Sahaidachny, Newark), and the Hetmanivna title – to Lana Pastushak (Toronto branch).”
On the Orlykiada information website, in the section “Results of past competitions”, more detailed data for 2019 are provided, from which we learn about the winners and prize‑winners of all contests. The overall standings were as follows:
- 28th Kurin named after Princess Olha, Cleveland;
- 3rd Kurin named after Ivan Mazepa, New York;
- 17th Kurin named after Bayda Vyshnevetsky, Cleveland;
- 6th Kurin named after Marko Vovchok / 7th Kurin named after Ivan Chmola, Chicago;
- 20th Kurin named after Marta Boretska, Newark.
Intellectual competition:
- 6th Kurin named after Marko Vovchok / 7th Kurin named after Ivan Chmola, Chicago;
- 28th Kurin named after Princess Olha, Cleveland;
- 17th Kurin named after Bayda Vyshnevetsky, Cleveland.
Artistic performance:
- 4th Kurin named after Lesia Ukrainka, Toronto;
- 20th Kurin named after Marta Boretska, Newark;
- 28th Kurin named after Princess Olha, Cleveland.
Exhibit:
- 3rd Kurin named after Ivan Mazepa, New York;
- 31st Kurin named after Ivan Vyhovsky / 38th Kurin named after Marusia Tarasenko, Passaic;
- 28th Kurin named after Princess Olha, Cleveland.
Plast in the USA also published a summary of the results of Orlykiada 2019: “The 57th Orlykiada took place at the Soyuzivka resort on November 9–10, 2019. This year’s theme was ‘Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!’”, adding the overall competition scores.
The information portal “100 krokiv” (“100 Steps”) on the history of Plast, in addition to covering the competition results, published numerous wonderful photos: “The 57th Orlykiada took place on November 9–10, 2019, at Soyuzivka near Kerhonkson. We congratulate not only the winners, but all participants – we sincerely thank the youth for their effort in preparing and taking part in the competition!”.
Memories and remembrance of Orlykiada 2019
According to Ms. Renata Roman (head of the World Sports Commission of the World Congress of Ukrainians): “The Plast members did a wonderful job, learned a great deal and remembered it. They now know everything about Ukrainian sport from princely times to the present.” In her opinion, the most impressive part of the competition was the “Exhibits” section, where participants had to conceive and create a project on the theme of sport. She recalls: “I was especially moved and impressed by this exhibit. Young boys (14–16 years old) from New York came up with the idea of linking fallen ATO soldiers who had been athletes. This was not even in their handbook – they came up with it themselves. At the bottom you see four soldiers of Ukraine who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom. Pay particular attention to the photo (where I am) and the message: ‘These athletes loved Ukraine above all. Look yourself in the eye. What does this call mean to you?’”.
Dora Dekailo helped the boys of the 3rd Kurin named after Ivan Mazepa prepare their exhibit for Orlykiada 2019. Here is how she recalls this: “The theme of Orlykiada 2019, ‘Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!’, was exceptionally interesting for the boys of the 3rd Kurin named after Ivan Mazepa from New York. The boys enjoyed learning how Ukrainian concepts of sport developed in culture, traditions, and ultimately in competitions on the world stage.
Our boys performed best that year in the exhibit competition. While thinking through the theme, they focused on the fact that Ukraine has had various athletes of world renown, but the most moving and inspiring for them were those athletes who interrupted their sports careers to fight for their homeland – and died in this struggle. In particular, they were interested in four athletes: rower Ihor Prysiazhniuk, swimmer Denys Chabanchuk, boxer Viktor Manzyk and powerlifter Tymur Yuldashev. Each of them had reached world‑class status in his sport, yet sacrificed his sporting prospects to defend his people. Their athletic careers ended abruptly.
The exhibit task was to visually present the theme of Orlykiada. For the theme ‘Ukrainian Sport: Ready, Set, Hop!’, our boys decided to build sports lockers for these four athletes. It looked as if each athlete had left behind a sports locker to which he intended to return. In each locker, items related to his sport hung on a hook (goggles and a swim cap, boxing gloves, etc.). On the inside of the locker door were photos (family, wife, them competing in sport, receiving medals, etc.). At the bottom of each locker stood a candle and a photo of the athlete in military uniform (with a black ribbon), along with awards from the president.
Between the lockers hung an inscription on a mirror: ‘These athletes loved Ukraine above all. Look yourself in the eye. What does this call mean to you?’. Every year, when the boys build an exhibit, there is both fun and enjoyment in it. However, the 2019 exhibit theme was much more solemn. They truly tried to present it with deep respect. Without a doubt, the 3rd Kurin’s exhibit that year was the most moving and inspiring for all participants of Orlykiada, and perhaps that is why it won first place in the exhibit competition.”
Tanya Kos recalled that preparing for Orlykiada was interesting but also difficult, since work in Plast is a lifelong mission. In preparing for future Orlykiadas, there is always a shortage of time. For example, in 2025 Ms. Tanya wrote: “By the way, in the USA many people are now very busy organizing 75th‑anniversary celebrations. Many Plast branches were founded 75 years ago. Many of us are also overwhelmed by the number of new members. In principle, this is a very good thing, but there are not enough counselors and organizers. I am in exactly this situation – I lead Orlykiada, I am in charge of educational work in the branch, now we have to organize the 75th anniversary, and after 30 years of educational work I also had to take on the responsibility of leading a new group of 15‑year‑old boys.”
Таким чином, українська громада, зокрема Пласт, у США завжди пам’ятає й розвиває українські традиції, історію, мову, культуру, спорт, тіловиховання та олімпійські традиції.
We have much—and many—to be proud of!
Author: Oleksii Lyakh-Porodko