Press releases

MINSK, 16 June (BelTA) – Foreign participants of Minsk Polo Marathon to be hosted by the Belarusian capital city on 13 September 2015 will get free visas, Deputy Chairman of the Permanent Commission for Healthcare, Physical Education, Family and Youth Policy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus, Chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation Vadim Devyatovsky told journalists, BelTA has learned.

“According to our plans, the athletes who will register for Minsk Polo Marathon will be exempt from consular fees in 2015. This will encourage more foreigners to come to our country and partake in the event,” Vadim Devyatovsky explained.

He said that the organizers of the sports forum expect to welcome many athletes and tourists not only from Russia and Ukraine, but also from the countries of the European Union. Vadim Devyatovsky noted that many famous foreign sportsmen have already expressed desire to take part in Minsk Polo Marathon.

He stressed that Belarusian people are also interested in the event. “We get many calls from different parts of Belarus,” Vadim Devyatovsky stated. He also pointed out that the Belarusian Athletics Federation has submitted a bid for hosting the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.

For his part, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Hall Igor Karpenko stressed that the sports forum has already become part of Minsk’s event tourism business. The half marathon will be timed to coincide with the Minsk City Day celebrations. Its route will go along the central streets of the city.

The organizers of Minsk Polo Marathon expect not fewer than 15,000 professional athletes and amateur runners who will compete in one of the following three races: 5km, 10km, or half marathon – 21.1km.

Minsk Polo Marathon has been organized by the Belarusian Athletics Federation with the support of the Belarusian Ministry of Sport and Tourism and the Minsk City Hall. Volkswagen is the title sponsor of the event in 2015.