Opinions & Interviews
Lukashenko comments on Team Belarus’ performance at Tokyo Olympics
Photo courtesy of Belarus' NOC
MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko spoke about the development of sport in the country and performance of Belarusian athletes as he made new appointments on 29 July, BelTA has learned.
While appointing new university rectors, the president touched upon the situation in the education sector. The head of state emphasized that there are a number of problems that need to be addressed. Aleksandr Lukashenko also spoke about sports, taking into account the ongoing Summer Olympics in Japan: “The Olympic Games are underway. As you can see, we have a lot of issues in sports, too. We finance the sports sector more than any other country does. What results do we get? We have been financing physical education and sports, but we have completely forgotten that the country and its people want to see their athletes winning medals.”
The president suggested channeling resources into the most promising sports and teams. “We invest a lot in physical education and sports. I suggest we pick up individual teams, athletes and invest in them to get a return tomorrow. This has not been done. It seems things are good, everyone does sports, but there are no medals. Why? Because we do not look for these diamonds in the rough and do not coach them for success. Therefore, this social sector needs major reforms," the Belarusian leader stressed.
“You know why we sometimes fail to win in sport, other areas of life... It is because we are not starving," Aleksandr Lukashenko said comparing Belarusian athletes with their peers from African countries. The Belarusian head of state cited Serbia as another example: “It is a talented nation, just like us. Why does it have such results? Because they know that if they succeed at the Olympics, world championship, they will have everything. If they do not, they will be struggling. We, on the contrary, support everyone.”
“Just take a look at the actions of our athletes, especially their wives! Some people, players in the national football championship were making huge sums of money. Do their wives have to work? Not at all. They are addicted to their iPhones rooting for the white-red-white opposition. This is because they have nothing else to do. That is not just my conclusion. There are people who are watching these processes and they ask me: ‘Who are we paying money to?’”the president said.
The head of state stressed that many countries do not even reward financially their athletes for Olympic medals. "In Norway, a rich country, they do not reward their athletes. The athlete considers it an honor to compete for their country and to win a medal, an honor in itself. We have made it all about money," the president said.
He assured that he is not against financial rewards, but they must be well earned. "I do not mind rewarding a talented athlete who makes their country proud. We can reward them with a land plot, where they can build a house, or with money for a medal,” the Belarusian leader said. “An athlete, a true athlete who produces a result should live well. Others will look up to them and aspire to succeed. Then we will have results,” he said.
"Sport is a hot-button issue today. We are all glued to TV, watching the event. Some countries that are three to five times smaller than ours, I will not name them, have won gold awards. We, on our part, rejoice as we make it to the final... Coaches bear great responsibility. It is the coach who shares the lion’s share of blame for failure. If he/she works properly with the athlete and sets them up for the result, then the athlete produces a result," Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.
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