Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 March (BelTA) – Sports play an important role in Belarus’ social life, Adam Roczek, President of the European University Sports Association, member of the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), told a press conference in the BelTA press center on 20 March ahead of the start of the 2018 FISU World University Speed Skating Championship, BelTA has learned.

The first such tournament took place in Zakopane, Poland. “Every new competition in Kazakhstan, Italy saw more and more participants. As the Minsk speed skating stadium handled the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Final last week, the FISU will not have any organizational problems with the World Championship. The FISU holds over thirty world forums on different university sports, but only two of them are related with winter sports. The Belarusian capital will host one of them this week,” Adam Roczek said.

The FISU cooperates with the European Olympic committees and pays close attention to preparations for the 2019 European Games. “Such large-scale events present a serious challenge for the organizers. I know that the Belarusian Association of Student Sports is closely involved in training volunteers, most of whom are students. The FISU is also ready to help engage students in work during the European Games,” he noted.

The fourth edition of the FISU World University Speed Skating Championship will take place at Minsk Arena in Minsk from 21 to 25 March. The competitions will bring together 114 athletes from 14 countries: Russia, Poland, the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Italy, Japan, the USA, China, India, Czechia, Sweden, Hungary, Finland, and Belarus.