MINSK, 22 May (BelTA) – A photo exhibition put together by BelTA news agency and the National Olympic Committee “Belarus Olympic History: Moments of Glory” opened in Minsk on 22 May, BelTA has learned.
The exhibition features Belarusian athletes who became Olympic champions in the Soviet times and Olympic champions and medalists of the contemporary period. All in all, the exhibition displays 188 photos, 138 of which were made by BelTA photo correspondents. One of BelTA's iconic photos shows Olympic gymnastics champions Antonina Koshel, Tamara Lazakovich, Olga Korbut from the Munich 1972 Summer Olympic Games.
Many athletes attended the exhibition to remember the triumphs captured on the photos. Olympic champions Sergei Makarenko, Elena Belova, Antonina Koshel, Aleksandr Karshakevich, Andrey Barbashinsky, Kamandar Madzhidov, Yanina Pravalinskaya-Karolchyk and also Darya Domracheva, Nadezhda Skardino, Dzinara Alimbekava, Iryna Kryuko, Anton Kushnir, Alla Tsuper, and many others. Famous athletes remembered their victories while the younger generation had an opportunity to meet with the famous athletes.
Acting First Vice President of Belarus NOC Viktor Lukashenko thanked all the athletes and sports enthusiasts who came to the exhibition and noted that without the high achievements of Belarusian athletes it would be difficult to assemble such a collection of photos. “A big sports event, the 2nd European Games, starts in Minsk in 30 days. Our exhibition is designed to promote the upcoming sports forum. It is well known that victories in big sport come through hard efforts. Visitors to the exhibition that opened today should know and remember the champions. Your every victory and every new achievement is another contribution to the development of sport in Belarus. I wish strong health and good luck to all the Olympic champions and medalists, impressive wins to Team Belarus at the 2nd European Games,” he said.
“The photos on display show the moments of glory in the Belarusian sport history. It is always pleasant to hear your country's anthem playing and see your country's flag flying in honor of winners. The 2nd European Games will produce a lot of new memorable moments of athletic triumph which will replenish the photography archives of BelTA news agency with new images. Let us root for Belarusian athletes at the forthcoming competitions together,” BelTA Director General Irina Akulovich said.
The Belarusian news agency BelTA has been working hard to popularize the Olympic movement and a healthy lifestyle in the country and abroad. BelTA has been running a multi-media project Pages of the Belarusian Sport on its website to provide information about all the sports that will make part of the 2nd European Games. The current photo exhibition is one of BelTA's major sports projects. The photos feature Belarusian athletes who became Olympic champions in the Soviet times and Olympic champions and medalists of the contemporary period.
Visitors can see the golden Olympic run of Yulia Nestsiarenka in Athens, the victory of Maxim Mirny and Victoria Azarenka in tennis mixed doubles in London, Daria Domracheva's triumph in the women's biathlon in Sochi and the victory of Belarus in women's biathlon relay in Pyeongchang 2018. The photos capture the acrobatic stunts by Olga Korbut and Nellie Kim, the successes of gymnasts in individual and team events, medal-winning swims by Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Sergey Koplyakov, golden performances in aerials, canoe/kayak and rowing.
The exhibition opened 30 days ahead of the 2nd European Games on the first floor of the Dana Mall shopping and entertainment center and will stay open till 30 June.
Photos by Maksim Guchek and Andrei Pokumeiko
