News & Events in Belarus

Lukashenko inaugurates world-class swimming pool in Minsk

MINSK, 6 November (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has officially opened a world-class swimming pool in Minsk  in the run-up to the national holiday of 7 November, BelTA has learned.

The opening ceremony took place near the swimming pool, which was built within the framework of humanitarian cooperation between Belarus and China.

Upon arrival, Alina Zmushko, finalist of the Summer Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, and Vasilina Khandoshka, bronze medalist of the World Championship, presented a bouquet of flowers to the head of state. "Well, shall we swim, shall we be champions?" the president asked the athletes.

"Sure," they answered.

"Do you promise?" Aleksandr Lukashenko asked again.

The athletes reassured the president and promised to be not only national champions, but also world ones.

"Well, we have world champions," the president addressed the officials attending the meeting with him. He asked Minsk Mayor Vladimir Kukharev about the state of affairs at the facility.

"Everything is done. The facility has been put in operation," the mayor stated. He emphasized that the Chinese side had implemented the whole project.

In this regard, the president recalled that a modern football stadium will be opened soon. It is also being built with China's technical assistance.

"We should put a monument to Xi Jinping here. We need to create a themed area in China’s honor near the stadium," the Belarusian leader pointed out.

During the opening ceremony, the head of state expressed his gratitude to the Chinese side and to Xi Jinping: "I want to thank our Chinese friends, the builders. You are just great! China made a promise and kept it. This is discipline. This is an example for us: said and done. Thank you very much. You should know that we are reliable friends for you. We have been moving forward together for over 30 years. China has never reproached Belarus of deviating from the course we agreed to follow together."

Ambassador of China to Belarus Zhang Wenchuan presented a key to the building to the Belarusian president. In turn, Aleksandr Lukashenko handed the key to Ihar Boki, 21-time Paralympic champion, and Anastasia Prokopenko, a sports instructor of the national modern pentathlon team, bronze medalist of the Summer Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. Aleksandr Lukashenko cut the ribbon together with them, officially opening the swimming pool.

"I present this symbolic key to those who will come in here without a key and yield good results," the president said.

Addressing the ceremony, on behalf of the government and people of China, ambassador Zhang Wenchuan congratulated everyone on the successful completion of the pool's construction. The leaders of the two countries personally contributed to the project’s implementation. The decrees of the Belarusian head of state provided guarantees for it.

The ambassador noted that the swimming pool has been built in strict compliance with international standards, ensuring the highest quality in design and construction and environmental safety. The pool has been equipped with intelligent control systems. "Five lozenges on the facade, connected like hands, symbolize the eternal friendship between China and Belarus," the diplomat stated.

"China is committed to working with Belarus to fully implement the agreements reached by the heads of the two states and to make every effort to strengthen the eternal friendship between our countries," the ambassador assured.

On behalf of both the sports community and the Belarusian people, Anastasia Prokopenko thanked the leaders of Belarus and China for such a wonderful and valuable gift. "Thanks to your agreements, wise and peaceful policy, good and close relations during many years, our country now has one of the most high-tech swimming facilities in the world. We are very grateful for such a gift," the athlete stressed. "Aleksandr Grigorievich, you are the most sports-loving president. No one cares about sports in his country like you do. Each region of Belarus has its own unique sports infrastructure. This swimming pool will become a gem of our capital and a place of attraction for everyone who wants to join aquatic sports and modern pentathlon."

"We promise that here we will raise champions who will glorify our country. Thank you very much for what you do for the people. For security and peaceful sky over our beloved Belarus. Thank you so much!" Anastasia Prokopenko added.

After the opening ceremony Aleksandr Lukashenko got acquainted with the swimming pool and its operation. Specialists assured the head of state that the facility is equipped with everything necessary. Its creators approached the project with passion. At first glance the building seems to contain only several pools, but all these water facilities still need to be serviced. "There is a whole city under the building," the head of state was informed.

The president immediately focused on the practical aspect of the matter. Such a facility should not be idle. Its maintenance costs, including the number of personnel, should be organized efficiently: "Remember that there should not be a single extra person here. Offer services to the public. We will help a little at first, and then you will earn money on your own."

During his visit to the facility, the Belarusian leader communicated with coaches and athletes. They assured the president that the created conditions meet the highest standards and the world level. "That is what we’ve agreed on. If we build it, it will be a world-class facility," Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked.

"It is just like a dream!" the participants of the event said.

"I will tell Xi Jinping so," the head of state responded.

As far as the athletes' training is concerned, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that he follows swimming and is happy about successes of Belarusian athletes in both short and long courses. "I hope to see results," he said. "It is necessary to give results. We need them. Otherwise, who will understand us?"

The president was assured that the country has a good sports school, coaches and promising athletes. For example, many medals have been recently won at the BRICS Games.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that if necessary, the swimming pool should work round the clock. Especially for those who strive to achieve high results in sports. He cited Ihar Boki as an example: "He is great. Well done. He is an example. We should learn from him."

The head of state noted that if this facility is designed primarily to bring up world-class athletes, then the country will continue to build swimming pools for training in order to provide opportunities for exercises and sports activities to the largest possible number of people.

Special attention is paid to work with children. Aleksandr Lukashenko also wished success to the very young swimmers. "Well, are you future champions?" he addressed to the children.

"Yes," the children answered.

"Go ahead! You have everything you need to become champions. Good luck to you! You must become world champions!" the head of state wished.

The facility also features so-called dry halls for training and even other sports. Aleksandr Lukashenko also visited them. For example, he talked to athletes and coaches in fencing and trampolining.

After that, the president toured the main competition pool and a diving pool. He gave a start to a combined mixed swimming relay race among the teams of the regions, the city of Minsk and the national swimming team of Belarus.

After watching the competition, the president addressed the athletes: "Guys, thank you very much. It was very nice! I will swim patiently now. For more than one kilometer. You have inspired me. Well done! Great!"

Aleksandr Lukashenko also watched synchronized swimming and diving shows accompanied by the songs "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" and "My Homeland". The swimming pool is the first facility in the country where any large-scale international competitions can be held in these sports. "Vasilina [Khandoshka, bronze medalist of the World Championship] is great. I never thought that during my life we would accomplish something in synchronized swimming," the Belarusian leader said.

At the end of his visit, Aleksandr Lukashenko once again wished everyone success. He also gave a practical task to Vladimir Kukharev: "You owe me a debt. You promised to divide Minsk into pieces, so to say. Architects should say how to make Minsk better. We have built something here. An entire microdistrict has been licked into shape. We need to look at the main sites, especially in the city center. I have always kept these areas untouched. But we need to see what we can add to them without overloading. But it should be checked by the architects."

"We do not work only in the center, but also in the suburbs," the chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee said.

"That is what I said: to divide into pieces. Not even  districts, but smaller pieces. And we will see," the head of state emphasized.

"We will work on micro-districts," Vladimir Kukharev said.

Speaking about the area near the swimming pool, the president noted that the work had been prompted by practical considerations. He drew attention to the landscaping of slopes, particularly along the railroad, near interchanges, where it is necessary to plant shrubs. Vladimir Kukharev assured that the relevant work is underway and a lot has already been done.