MINSK, 30 May (BelTA) – Everything is done for athletes in Belarus, but the results could be better, Belarus President, President of the National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko said at the Olympic Assembly of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 30 May, BelTA has learned.
“A number of pending issues still exists in the industry. Sport as a crucial ideological instrument of the state policy did not become the source of national pride and inspiration for Belarusians. Everything is done for athletes in our country, but the results could be better,” the head of state said.
Alexander Lukashenko mentioned the achievements of Belarusian athletes at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, rather good performance at the 2015 European Games in Baku. “What happened in Rio de Janeiro last year? Belarusians were good at wrestling, weightlifting. Modest and hardworking guy, Vladislav Goncharov, did not leave a chance to his rivals. However, these were sporadic achievements, bright flames. In general, the performance of Belarus' team at the Olympic Games was very poor,” the president said.
In his words, special attention has been already drawn to every sport. Certain coaches have been replaced, certain teams have been refreshed.
Speaking about team sports, Alexander Lukashenko said that only the women's basketball team took part in the Rio Olympics. “The entire country rooted for the girls. But how did they play?” the president wondered. “Extremely difficult endings of their matches and very small differences in the final score mean that they could defeat virtually all rivals in the group stage. Why did they fail? They say they were tired, that they are veterans… But why did they go there then? Why were they tired? Why aren't other athletes of the same age tired? Where are young players? The team's lineup has been virtually the same for ten years? Now they say that they need young players.”
“Nevertheless, the women's basketball team took part in the Rio Olympics and fought. What about football, volleyball, handball?” the head of state wondered.
He stressed that the performance in individual sports was not great either. The results of Belarusian athletes in judo, shooting, boxing, gymnastics, tennis were poor. “All our track-and-field athletes and swimmers hid behind the backs of Tikhon and Gerasimenya. Why did they show results at commercial competitions and fail at the Olympic Games?” Alexander Lukashenko said.
The president continued that Belarusian gymnasts did not show their best either.
“We had a session with our athletes and the best specialists before the departure to the Olympics. Back then they did not have any claims, did not say that they lack anything for the successful performance of athletes,” the president added.
