MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – The presentation of the Belarusian sports magazine Biathlon was held at the Moscow-based business and cultural center of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia, BelTA learned from the embassy.
Belarus does a lot to promote sports, Yuri Yaroshevich, Minister Counsellor of the Belarusian Embassy in Russia, noted in the opening speech. “Needless to say, the growing interest in this sport is largely due to outstanding athletes such as Darya Domracheva, a three-time Olympic champion, the pride of both Belarus and Russia. She gave an impetus to biathlon development, to a great extent,” he added.
Russians were happy for Darya's victories in Sochi as if these were the triumphs of Russian athletes. “Let it be so in business and in human relations between Belarusians and Russians. Let your victories be ours, and let Russians celebrate our victories as sincerely as they do theirs,” Yuri Yaroshevich remarked.
The Belarusian publication is one of a kind in the post-Soviet countries. Editor-in-chief of the Biathlon magazine Victoria Tarasevich believes that it will become another communication tool to enable a proper feedback from the target audience and create a favorable attitude to the current situation in the world of biathlon.
Executive Director of the Russian Biathlon Union Sergei Kostin pointed to the great popular appeal of biathlon in sports. He drew attention to the fact that 50% of biathlon-related searches on the internet are made in Russian. “An illustrated magazine will become a wonderful addition for biathlon fans to update them on the latest and the most interesting stories,” he underlined.
Sergei Kostin expressed a wish that the Biathlon World Cup schedule should feature a Belarusian stage alongside the Russian one. He also said he hopes that the National Winter Olympic Training Center Raubichi comes back to big-time biathlon.
Attending the presentation were representatives of Russia's largest sports media, federal news outlets, print media, and shops of famous sportswear brands and sporting goods manufacturers, which will distribute the magazine.
