E sports a pathway back to normality for Ukrainian war veterans

PARIS – E-sports is helping Ukrainian war veterans – who “often feel out of place” when they return from the front line – to reintegrate into society, the head of Ukraine’s E-sport Commission has told AFP.

Denys Davydov, 43, speaks with authority as he also leads a commission on the development of rehabilitation programmes for veterans through e-sports.

He says “rehabilitation is one of the most pressing and painful issues” in Ukraine for close to 380,000 soldiers and his programme includes both able-bodied and disabled veterans.

“When soldiers return from war or end up in hospitals, they often feel out of place,” Davydov said.

“After years spent on the front lines, they lose the part of socialisation associated with everyday civilian life. Sport, and especially e-sports, can help them reintegrate into society.”

E-sports was particularly effective because it “allows competition regardless of obstacles or distances”.

“On one hand, we offer veterans a way to mentally unwind, and on the other, we provide a competitive outlet,” he added.

Davydov, who has built up a wealth of sports administration experience primarily in rugby and football, said the second edition of the Ukrainian Veterans E-sports Championship was already deep in the planning stage.

He added that e-sports – because at a competitive level it requires the technology and know-how to broadcast the video games to a wider audience – also helps develop careers in roles such as broadcast directors, tournament managers or commentators.

And perhaps most importantly for a country at war, e-sports can assist in helping veterans rebuild relationships closer to home.

“Veterans start to better understand their children and loved ones, they release built-up aggression, and they begin to feel like part of civilian society again,” he said.

Davydov, who played badminton at a high level in Ukraine, also said e-sports