Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 April (BelTA) – It is essential to develop sport as one of the state policy priorities, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said at the session held on 13 April to discuss the development of winter sports, BelTA has learned.

“Huge attention is drawn to sport in our country. We are keeping an eye on its development. This is the health of the nation and a huge layer of our ideological work. Therefore, sport is one of the state policy priorities. Thanks to the victories of our athletes the image of our state is shaped and patriotism is nurtured,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that necessary infrastructure for physical fitness and sport has been created in Belarus. As for winter sports, there are ice arenas in every region, several ski tracks have been built and can be used in summer and in winter. Instructions have been given to build all-season facilities for the year-round ski training on snow in Raubichi and Minsk.

“The state allocated significant funds for the preparations of national teams for major competitions. The financing made up $10.5 million in four years,” the head of state said. “At the same time the Olympic Games in South Korea brought only three medals to Belarus. This is the consequence of serious problems in the entire sports industry,” the head of state said.

The president remarked that freestyle and biathlon champions are honored in the country, however, not all Belarusian athletes showed the expected results. “The Olympic Games are an important competition for every athlete, it is the competition of life for many. All participants must do their best knowing that the country is rooting for them,” the head of state said. “Athletes do not go to the Olympics and world and continental championships just to perform well as some of our sports functionaries are used to saying. They go to such competitions to win medals.”

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that the participants of the session must evaluate the development of winter sports in Belarus. He mentioned the situation in various winter sports and focused on some details.

“A lot has been said about the today’s event. There have been many opinions, a lot of preparations have been made. First of all, I would like to know what has been done by the government, the Sports Ministry, sports federations in the process of these preparations. Have you fulfilled the instructions to improve the sports industry? What is the scheme of management in sport?” Alexander Lukashenko wondered.

“I would like you to tell us about the fulfillment of the instruction to form the coaching pool, about the reserve of athletes, salaries in sport. There are many issues of interest,” the head of state said.