Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko: CIS Games are focused on the future
MINSK, 11 August (BelTA) – The CIS Games are focused on the future, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he talked to employees of organizations at National Airport Minsk, BelTA has learned.
The head of state was asked about the performance of domestic athletes at the 2nd CIS Games and whether the fear of competition is one of the reasons for the sanctions against Belarusian sports and athletes.
"The West is afraid of competition, they show their attitude, they want us to kowtow to them. They are fighting for world domination. Sport has long been the big politics. Therefore, they are pressing in all directions. We have held out and our guys perform in all sports and show good results," the head of state said.
The president stated that mainly young athletes perform at the Games, who have yet to prove themselves: "Some say: ‘Well, there are no Olympic champions here and so on...’ The main thing is the future. The fact that we have won such a huge number of medals is good."
Belarus and Russia cooperate in sport. Belarusian athletes compete in domestic competitions in Russia and Russians – in competitions in Belarus.
The president advised not to pay attention to the sanctions. This applies not only to sport! "We should not pay attention to this. If we do, then there is no need to work. You can always refer to the difficulties associated with the sanctions and so on. Will this make it easier for you? Therefore, ignore them! Indeed, it's not easy. It's difficult. When was it easier for us? It has always been difficult. Because we are competitors."
Aleksandr Lukashenko said that there are no problems for athletes. “Sooner or later they will be forced to return us to the international arena," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The president also highlighted the initiative to hold the BRICS Games, which he also discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I supported him and praised him for initiating the BRICS Games." The members of this association - Brazil, Russia, South Africa, China and India - are major world powers with huge populations.
“If BRICS go ahead with the Games, Belarus will join them. Many countries will join. The Olympic movement that exists now (with Bach at the helm) will fall apart. Because everyone is fighting for money , for advertising. The more viewers there are (one and a half billion each in India and China) the more advertising an event will get. The more money for them. Therefore, they [the International Olympic Committee] are no fools. They understand that a few more such steps will destroy this movement," the head of state stressed.
Returning to the topic of the 2nd CIS Games, Aleksandr Lukashenko once again focused on the importance of performances of promising athletes in such an international tournament. The results will be summed up at the end of the Games. "Sport will live. Sport is health. Elite sport pulls mass sport along with it. This is our health. We have survived worse pressure than this," the Belarusian leader concluded.
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