Opinions & Interviews

Lukashenko comments on NOC situation, Belarus’ participation in Olympics

MINSK, 15 March (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko commented on the situation around the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the participation of Belarusian athletes in the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo as he spoke to the media after the Minsk Ski Track relay in Raubichi on 13 March, BelTA has learned.

The head of state advised “not to worry” and emphasized the politicization of the issues.

One of the journalists noted that the IOC would not recognize Viktor Lukashenko as the head of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus. “Well, then they will have to recognize Aleksandr Lukashenko. He was recognized long time ago. It is better for them to recognize Viktor in this situation. They have not even thought about that,” said the head of state.

“I think we do not have to worry about that at all. We have our own country and we will build this policy the way it should be done,” stressed the Belarusian leader.

He also pointed out that Viktor Lukashenko had been in fact the acting head of the NOC for a long time already: “I am an ‘umbrella’ for this organization [when Aleksandr Lukashenko was the head of the NOC, Viktor Lukashenko was its first vice-president]. Everything was fine. Then they made a demand ahead of the Olympic meeting of the NOC of Belarus to ‘get rid of’ Dima Baskov, Lukashenko-1, Lukashenko-2, and threatened with sanctions. We have not done anything yet, and they are already imposing sanctions. They told him to abandon his father. How is it possible? What else can I say about such things?

He added that Belarus is pressurized on all fronts. “I can see that this happens even at the Eurovision Song Contest. What did these guys do wrong? Well, all this pressure just added them popularity. As they say, this is a good publicity move for them. Well, if anything wrong, we will make another song. No problem,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.

“You see it is all politicized. I have already said that if we want to be a nation, we have to stand up. I have also said that independence and sovereignty cost a lot. All this is demonstrated on the international arena. They aim at the strong. They do not pay attention to the weak,” the Belarusian leader added.

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