Opinions & Interviews

Team Belarus promise to do their best at Tokyo Olympic Games

MINSK, 9 July (BelTA) – Belarusian athletes will do their best and show the best performance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, captain of Belarus’ Olympic Team Ivan Tsikhan said at a solemn farewell ceremony for Belarusian athletes on the way to the Tokyo Olympic Games on 9 July, BelTA has learned.

“We, Belarusian Olympians, promise to do our best to achieve great results at the Olympic Games to uphold the honor of our flag and our country in the international arena,” Ivan Tsikhan stressed.

The Olympic Games are an important test for every athlete, Ivan Tsikhan noted. “We know that during the Olympic Games the entire country, the entire nation will support us and root for us. We also understand the responsibility and hopes the country pins on every athlete and coach on the team,” he stressed.

The captain of Belarus’ Olympic Team expressed gratitude to the government for creating great conditions for preparing for the Olympic Games. “Despite the fact that the Olympic cycle became a year longer, despite the pandemic, Belarus has made the right decision to keep sports training centers open. This helped our athletes maintain and improve their fitness, perform well at this year’s competitions, and prepare for the Olympic Games well,” he pointed out.

On behalf of Belarus’ Olympic Team, Ivan Tsikhan presented the head of state with a gift – a set of 34 pins “Tokyo-2020” depicting icons of the summer Olympic sports, the logo of Team BY, and Belarusian cultural symbols resembling elements of the pattern on the Olympic outfits of the national team.

Chairwoman of the Belarusian public association “Veterans of physical culture and sport”, champion of the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich Antonina Koshel also addressed Belarus’ Olympic Team. “You will be defending your Motherland, because this is just like a war,” she noted. Antonina Koshel wished the members of the Belarusian delegation to stand united and support each other in Tokyo. “I believe in your success,” she added.

“It is such a great feeling to take your Olympic medal in your hands 50 years later and ask yourself: was it me, did I really succeed? You are filled with pride when you look at your medal,” Antonina Koshel said.

“I would like to wish you success,” Antonina Koshel told the Belarusian delegation. “Make sure that you could look back at your performance at the Olympic Games with pride and the sense of fulfillment. We will be proud of you no matter what. I wish you to achieve success, demonstrate your willpower, and fight to the end. Never give up!” she stressed.

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