Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 26 October (BelTA) – Over the course of 80 years the Belarusian State University of Physical Education (BSUPE) has become a true center for the training of highly qualified specialists in the sports industry, a message of greetings from Belarus President, President of the National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko reads. It was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Zharko on the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of the university, BelTA has learned.

Over the years the university has opened the doors to the professional world for more than 30,000 specialists who are making a big contribution to the development of elite sport and physical education, promotion of a healthy lifestyle in the society. The message of greetings also reads that alongside with its major objective to train specialists who can say a new word in sport and science the university will continue to educate the younger generation, true patriots of their country.

The university started as a small physical training college with only a few dozens of students. In 1937, this physical training college was transformed into the institute of physical education of the BSSR.

BSUPE is the largest institution for the training of specialists in physical education, sport and tourism. The university has launched the careers of dozens of Olympic champions and medalists, world and European champions. The university’s list of notable alumni includes such great athletes as Romuald Klim, Mikhail Krivonosov, Alexander Medved, Yelena Belova, Viktor Sidyak, Vitaly Shcherbo, Marina Lobach, Vadim Makhnev, Yekaterina Karsten, Yanina Korolchik, Ellina Zvereva, Alexander Bogdanovich and Andrei Bogdanovich, Alexei Grishin, Dmitry Dashchinsky, Victoria Azarenka, Alexandra Gerasimenya, Lyubov Cherkashina, and other renowned athletes and coaches.

Belarus’ Sport and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko said that BSUPE is a true talent foundry for coaches. A lot of people study sports management, physical educating and tourism. The minister also stressed that the scientific and practical conference to discuss the system of training of the sports reserve also opened at BSUPE on 26 October. Partaking in it are more than 500 Belarusian and foreign specialists in the sports industry. During this large-scale event they will be able to share experience and learn more about the best practices of colleagues. Training of the sports reserve is very important for all countries. Prioritizing and promoting the skills of athletes, Belarus is among the top 20 countries in terms of elite sport development. To keep this level, Belarusian specialists should continue looking for future sports stars, Alexander Shamko emphasized.