The 140th birth anniversary of the unbeatable Ukrainian wrestler, six-time world wrestling champion Ivan Piddubnyi, who was born in Krasenivka village in Cherkasy region, is celebrated on October 8, 2011. On this occasion, Mykola Tomenko´s Fund Ridna Kraina together with the Center of Ethnology "Kozak Mamai" holds a campaign "Ukraine is the Country of Strongest People."
According to the campaign initiator Deputy Chairman of the Parliament Mykola Tomenko, such anniversary stimulates promotion of sports and healthy way of living. However, not only residents of Cherkasy region should know about activity of Ivan Piddubnyi. So the organizers decided to hold the festivities in Kyiv, in the Mamaeva Sloboda period-house museum. He informed that pupils and children will have an opportunity to meet the Olympic champions and winners of international contests in power fights who are following an example of I. Piddubnyi and represent Ukraine as a country of strong people.
Moreover, Mykola Tomenko emphasized that this campaign has an educating mission. He reminded that soviet propaganda and present-day Russian mass media have always been trying to make I. Piddubnyi, who comes from the Cherkasy Cossack family, their hero.
"We would like to prove that Ukrainian people have always been the strongest sportsmen in power fights. That is why the celebrations are held under the slogan "Ukraine is the Country of Strongest People," Deputy Chairman stated.
M. Tomenko also announced that the following famous Ukrainian sportsmen will take part in the celebration: Viacheslav Oliynyk, first Olympic Champion of the independent Ukraine, Denys Gotfrid, winner of Olympic Games, weight-lifter, Dmytro Haladzhi, Ukrainian power lifting champion, Mykola Tkachuk, kettlebell lifting world champion, and others.