Press releases

3 Mar 2018

Snow Sniper biathlon competitions kick off in Raubichi

MINSK, 3 March (BelTA) – The Snow Sniper national biathlon junior competitions have kicked off at the National Olympic Center Raubichi. Taking part in the event are 168 young biathletes, BelTA informs.

Friends and parents have come to cheer up the competitors. The parade of teams was preceded by a concert that featured well-known Belarusian singers Olga Plotnikova and Dyadya Vanya.

The opening ceremony of the national finals was attended by Belarus’ Vice Prime Minister Vasily Zharko, Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Vyacheslav Durnov, Education Minister Igor Karpenko, head of the Supervisory Board of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation Valery Vakulchik, representatives of the Minsk City Hall and the President's Sports Club.

A welcoming message from the Chairman of the President’s Sports Club Dmitry Lukashenko to the young athletes was read out by Deputy Chairman Andrei Karpovich. The message noted that thanks to the participation in Snow Sniper every student, even from a small town, gets a chance to reach the highest positions in biathlon.

“The mood at the opening ceremony makes these competitions look like small Olympic Games. The atmosphere is excellent. So much snow. I would like to note that ordinary school students are taking part in the competitions today. This shows that anyone can achieve success in mass sports,” said Vasily Zharko.

“The Education Ministry and the Belarusian Biathlon Federation have long-standing partnership and cooperate in arranging biathlon competitions. Boys and girls compete in the district centers first and then the strongest advance to the regional and national rounds. I am pleased that today's Snow Sniper features many school students who love this sport. I am sure that eventually some of them will make their way to the junior team and to the national team,” Igor Karpenko said.

Organizers of Snow Sniper include the President’s Sports Club, the Belarusian Biathlon Federation, the Sport and Tourism Ministry, the Education Ministry, with the participation of the national center for physical education and sport of students, the Minsk City Hall and the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee.