Matviy Bidnyi

Matviy Bidnyi (Матвій Вікторович Бідний; born 28 November 1979) is a Ukrainian sports executive and bodybuilder. On 9 November 2023, he was appointed as the Temporary Acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

Education
In 2001, Bidnyi graduated from the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport with a degree in coaching. In 2004, he graduated from the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics with a degree in enterprise finance. In 2008, Bidnyi graduated from the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management with a degree in commercial law and labour law. In 2020, he graduated from the National Academy for Public Administration under the President of Ukraine.

Career
From 2004 to 2016 Bidnyi was the head of the "Capital of Groups" consulting firm. During the 2007-2011 period he also was the head of the "Favorit-S" fitness club.

From 2015 to 2016 — he was the head of the road transportation department of the Subsidiary enterprise "ISTFRAHT".

In 2016, he was the Assistant Consultant to the Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Secretariat of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

In 2016, he was the Chief Specialist of the Division of Priority Non-Olympic Sports of the Department of Physical Culture and Non-Olympic Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

In 2016–2020, Bidnyi was the Director of the Department of Physical Culture and Non-Olympic Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

On 15 July 2020, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

On 9 November 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at its meeting appointed Matviy Bidnyi as acting Minister of Youth and Sports to replace Vadym Gutzeit, who was dismissed on the same day.

In the area of international sports diplomacy, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, under the leadership of Matvii Bidnyi, is working on sanctions lists of Russian and Belarusian athletes who support Russian war crimes.

In an interview with Le Monde, Bidnyi asserts that Russian and Belarusian athletes, whose participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games remains subject to the approval – subject to conditions – of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), are and will be "used" by the Kremlin's "huge propaganda machine".

Sporting achievements
From 1999 to 2004, he was a member of the Ukrainian National Bodybuilding Team and the Champion of Ukraine in 2000, 2001, 2002. He was a silver medallist at the World Junior Bodybuilding Championships 2000, Dubai, UAE.

From 2005 to 2008, he was a participant of the Patriot Games sports television project in France.

Awards

 * Acknowledgement of the Ministry of Youth and Sports (31 August 2017) — for a significant personal contribution to the development of physical culture and sports in Ukraine;
 * Gratitude from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine — for his contribution to the development of the Olympic movement.
 * Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (1 December 2017);
 * Diploma of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine (1 August 2019);
 * Honoured Worker of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine (13 September 2019) — for a significant personal contribution to the development and popularisation of physical culture and sports in Ukraine, achievement of high sports results and many years of fruitful professional activity;
 * Badge of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine "Badge of Honour" (23 December 2021).

Personal life
Matviy Bidnyi is married. He has three children.