Opinions & Interviews

Viktor Lukashenko: Belarus is ready to host tournaments of the highest level

Photo courtesy of Belarus' NOC

MOSCOW, 14 September (BelTA) - Belarus is ready to host sports tournaments of the highest level, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko said at a joint meeting of the Athletes’ Commissions of the NOC of Belarus and the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow on 14 September, BelTA has learned.

“Despite the sanctions imposed by international federations, we have managed to build a clear calendar together with the Russian Olympic Committee, the Ministries of Sport of Belarus and Russia. I am confident that together we can organize large-scale competitions of any level,” Viktor Lukashenko said.

In his words, the 2nd CIS Games held in Belarus in August 2023 became a real celebration of sport for athletes, visitors and fans. “The whole country was preparing for this large-scale event. I attended a lot of competitions during the Games, talked to athletes and coaches all of whom admitted that everything was organized at a high level. Once again I was convinced that the Belarusians not only like to organize such tournaments, they also know to do it,” the president of the NOC of Belarus said.

He added that Belarus was making great efforts to remove sanctions from athletes. “Sanctions, restrictions are unpleasant of course. When they are biased and unjustified, this is all looks very unfair,” he said. Viktor Lukashenko said that temporary restrictions were imposed on the NOC of Belarus at the end of 2020. “We are in contact with the International Olympic Committee. We maintain dialogue with the International Sports Federations discussing ways to remove these restrictions. Believe me, dear athletes, serious efforts are being made,” he said.

The event in Moscow has brought together over 250 specialists. Belarus is represented at the event by Ksenia Sankovich, Acting Secretary General of the NOC of Belarus, Aliaksandr Bahdanovich, Chairman of the Athletes' Commission, Liudmila Kalinchik, a member of the Commission, as well as invited athletes Karyna Dziominskaya (archery), Ruslan Skamaroshka (swimming), Pavel Dzik (aerials) and others. Russia is represented by Olympic participants Anastasia Maximova, Evgeny Rylov, Artur Dalaloyan, Nikita Nagorny, Aliya Mustafina, Sofia Pozdnyakova, Alexander Tretyakov and others.

In addition to the plenary session, the event will comprise panel discussions to consider issues of interest to both current athletes and those who have completed or are completing their sports careers. Each discussion group is expected to compile documents including proposals of the participants.

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