Integration Through Ice Hockey

As part of a recent report, "Schweiz aktuell" visited Nikita Kazantsev and his teammate Yevhen Burlachenko in Kreuzlingen. Both have now integrated well into their new environment and are passionately pursuing their athletic ambitions. The Talent Campus Bodensee in Kreuzlingen, where Kazantsev and many other young athletes were welcomed, has become a safe haven and a hub for athletic development.

 

For Kazantsev, who has grown not only as an athlete but also as a person, sports have been one of the most important bridges to adapting to life in Switzerland. "Ice hockey is more than just a game for me. It has helped me get through the difficult times after fleeing," Kazantsev said in an interview with SRF.

 

Yevhen Burlachenko, another example of successful integration, also emphasized the importance of solidarity among young athletes and the support they received from the Swiss community in their positive development.

 

The report vividly illustrates how sports serve not only as a fleeting pastime but also as a key to integration and a source of hope amid challenges and uncertainty. Today, Kazantsev and Burlachenko are not only exceptional talents on the ice but also living examples of how the dedicated reception and support of young people from crisis regions can lead to positive future prospects. Moreover, both athletes now give back to society in new roles, such as trainers or tutors, demonstrating that integration at its best is not a one-sided process.

 

The report on the lives and hopes of the two Ukrainians in Switzerland is now available in the SRF media library.

 

Watch the full report here.