Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) – Belarus should remain a country of winter sports, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said as he met with representatives of the country’s largest state-run mass media on 10 April, BelTA has learned.

The head of state said that very soon he is going to host a meeting on the development of winter sports in the country. The forthcoming meeting does not mean that this area has more problems than summer sports. “The Winter Olympics have just completed, and winter sports start a new preparatory cycle. The meeting is of high importance today. We still remember very well both the victories and drawbacks. We need to hold this meeting to discuss how to move forward, decide whether we are going to be a winter country and whether we are going to develop these sports. I think Belarus needs to remain a country of winter sports,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

We have already taken some relevant decisions, the head of state noted. For instance, new sporting facilities are in the pipeline. The production of necessary sports equipment is being set up. “Every sports federation is currently looking into ways to develop their sports. I showed them the corresponding directions,” the Belarusian leader added.

According to the president, progress has been made in summer sports. For example, Belarusian handball and volleyball players have been showing certain successes. “We also need to plan a meeting on summer sports, most likely this year, taking into account the forthcoming 2^nd European Games. I would like to listen to the heads of supervisory boards and sports federations,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

In his words, it is important to hold mass sport events such as Minsk Half Marathon. The country also needs results in professional sport. Big funds are invested in the sector, while athletes’ victories raise the spirits of Belarusians. “This is what the ideology is built on,” the president is convinced.