- Title: UKRAINE-CRISIS/BODYGUARD COMPETITION Ukraine holds bodyguard competition
- Date: 11th June 2015
- Summary: BODYGUARDS SHOWCASING ATTACK PREVENTION CARS PERFORMING MANOEUVRES (SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) BODYGUARD FROM UKRAINE'S STATE GUARD , VICTORIA, SAYING: "Everybody has fear, a person without fear is not a healthy person, but you need to control it. A person who chooses this profession knows what it is." VARIOUS OF BODYGUARDS SHOWCASING THREAT DETECTION AND CLIENT PROTECTION WO
- Embargoed: 26th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ukraine
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACV9XMBU9HV4E5Q6DO52NFVF4S
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dozens of professional bodyguards, who used to work in a clandestine manner to secure safety of their clients, stepped out of the shade to showcase their life-saving expertise at the annual competition in the Ukrainian western town of Lviv.
As crowd cheered, they demonstrated fast reaction, hand-to-hand combat techniques and outstanding driving skills while performing some of the most difficult of their daily tasks - threat detection and attack prevention.
Both servicemen from state and private security agencies took part in the championship, which attracted 16 Ukrainian teams and two from Bulgaria and Romania.
Female bodyguards also participated in the competition. One of them, Victoria from Ukraine's State Guard said that all her colleagues equally face fear.
"Everybody has fear, a person without fear is not a healthy person, but you need to control it. A person who chooses this profession knows what it is," she said.
The tournament took place at a range in Lviv outskirts, where participant could demonstrate their shooting skills.
Chief referee Vasily Vakulenko noticed that those participants who had a first-hand war experience reacted faster and performed better.
"They understand better what a cover is, what it means to be able to shoot first. That is why to pull a gun out of a holster and hit a target- it is 3 seconds. If they stay within this time here, they will do it quickly in any situation," he said.
Kiryl Ivanov from National Guard of Ukraine named few other qualities that are essential for a bodyguard.
"The most important is the reaction time, thorough assessment of the situation, decision-making both at the high level and the low level and, of course, luck," he said.
The winners were awarded in four categories: team cohesion, hand-to-hand fighting, shooting and obstacle driving. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None