Minsk hosts joint meeting of sport ministries of Belarus, Russia
MINSK, 20 September (BelTA) — The Belarusian National Olympic Committee played host to a joint meeting of the boards of the Sport and Tourism Ministry of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation on 20 September, BelTA learned.
The previous joint meeting of the boards of the ministries was held in Khabarovsk in late June. Back then the parties signed a plan of sports and mass events and a plan of joint scientific activities. Back then the parties also announced the plans to hold the spartakiade of the strongest athletes of both countries in winter and summer sports in 2025 and the Open Biathlon Championships of the Union State.
At the meeting in Minsk, Belarus’ Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk thanked the Russian side for organizing two major events this year, namely the BRICS Games in Kazan and the Children of Asia Games in Yakutsk. “Kazan delivered a top-notch event. We visited excellent sports facilities. The reception in Yakutsk was wonderful as well, our children were happy. The main thing is the friendship between our children, which should serve as an impetus for the development of children’s sports between the countries.
Sergei Kovalchuk spoke about the end of the Olympic cycle and the upcoming election of the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). “Some Belarusian and Russian athletes were deprived of the right to compete in the Games; many were not even admitted to the selection process. It is important to ensure that the IOC should have no random people and that athletes again have the opportunity to participate in international events, as it has always been,” the minister said. “At the same time, we need to work through the issue of holding a multi-sport tournament with the participation of representatives of friendly countries. Russia has a tremendous experience in organizing such events, while Belarus also has a lot of wonderful facilities. If we join forces, we can deliver. “
Russia’s Minister of Sport Mikhail Degtyarev noted that Minsk is the center of attraction for major sporting events. It played a great host to the 2nd CIS Games. The Russian minister emphasized that Belarus traditionally sends the largest delegations to international competitions to Russia. “Our countries have noticeably stepped up cooperation; the level of trust in all areas is unprecedented. We are against discrimination in sport and interference of federations. The sports arena should be a field for fair play. Some countries turn it into a place for settling political scores. Nevertheless, we are always open to international dialogue. Despite the restrictions, we hold competitions in an open format, and their number will expand”.
Mikhail Degtyarev also invited Sergei Kovalchuk and the delegation of the Sport and Tourism Ministry of Belarus to the international forum “Russia is a Sporting Nation” which will be held in Ufa in October.
Photos by Nadezhda Kostetskaya
