Ukraine's curling teams have been given a warm welcome in Perth and Kinross.
The teams are due to compete in the European Curling Championships 2023 in Scotland later this month.
After a few visa complications all 10 players are now settling into life in Perth and Kinross as they train for the event.
The competition will take place in Dumfries from April 28 to May 6.
The athletes - who are now staying in Kinross, Perth and Scone - used to train in Kyiv until the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have since taken part in a number of tournaments across Europe but returned to their families in Ukraine following the World Junior-B Curling Championships in Finland in December.
The Ukrainian Curling Federation was keen for the players to be brought to Scotland together as a team.
Nataliia Menzeha secretary executive of the Ukrainian Curling Federation was already staying in the Perth and Kinross area as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
She explained: "We asked Pete Wishart if he could help us be together as a team."
Homes For Ukraine applicants are advised not to book travel until after they receive their visa. However, the male athletes needed a special order from the Ukrainian Government's Ministry of Sport in order to leave Ukraine and had to provide evidence of this in the form of a travel itinerary. This meant having to book their travel before they had their visas.
She approached Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart for help on March 7 with the athletes due to arrive in Scotland on March 22.
The MP's office contacted the Home Office to explain this situation and asked for all of the applicants to be fast-tracked - given the circumstances - to ensure they made their flight.
As March 22 approached the majority had still not received their visas. Following a number of calls to the Home Office all the athletes except one received their visa in time. He was forced to miss boarding the flight with his team-mates and wait until his visa came through which it did. He arrived in Scotland two days later.
Gathered together in Perth last week, Nataliia told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the young players - aged 18 to 22 - had settled in well.
She said: "People are very nice."
Iryna Kochyk, vice president of the Ukrainian Curling Federation added: "The people have a good attitude."
The teams' coach Estonian Erkki Lill has been preparing the players ahead of the forthcoming championships with training every day.
Nataliia said: "Kinross Curling Club provided free training sessions during the first two weeks then our athletes started to practise at the National Curling Academy in Stirling."
The ice rink at Dewars Centre in Perth is currently closed for the season. However, there are plans for the athletes to train at Dewars later in the year when the rink reopens.
Pete Wishart said it was "fantastic" to meet the players on Wednesday and added: "My office has been working flat out to ensure that all of the athletes had their visas issued in time for the competition, so I am delighted to see them all now here and settling into life in Perthshire.
"Since the very start of Putin's barbaric war, the people of Perthshire have gone above and beyond to welcome the people of Ukraine, and it is heartening to see that legacy built upon with these talented new arrivals.
"I wish Team Ukraine, and of course Team Scotland, all the very best of luck in the championships and will be watching closely to see how they get on."
Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) thanked local hosts for their generosity.
A PKC spokesperson said: "Our Ukraine Resettlement team were approached by members of the curling team already residing with sponsors in Perth and Kinross for assistance to bring the team together. Our officers were able to identify a number of suitable sponsors and supported the communications between the team and sponsors to build relationships and make visa applications. We are very grateful to the generosity of local sponsors who worked with us to achieve a successful outcome."
The latest data as of April 11, 2023 shows the Home Office has received 284,200 Ukraine Scheme visa applications and issued 225,300 Ukraine Scheme visas.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "In response to Putin’s barbaric invasion of Ukraine, we launched one of the fastest and biggest visa schemes in UK history. More than 170,00 Ukrainians have now arrived safely in the UK through our Ukraine visa schemes.
"We are processing visas as quickly as they come in, but sometimes there can be delays due to required checks taking place but we are pleased the Ukrainian curling team are now safely in the UK and able to compete."
