MINSK, 21 October (BelTA) – Belarus will be a good host of the Second European Games, Sergey Bubka, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine, Executive Member of the IOC Executive Board, told BelTA.
“I am a frequent guest in Belarus, and I am confident that your country will successfully host any major sports event. Minsk has a well-developed infrastructure with modern centers, a big number of top-notch hotels. Therefore, it will cost less to organize, for instance, the Second European Games in Belarus than in other countries. There is no need to train staff and volunteers – Minsk already has everything,” Sergey Bubka noted.
The NOC of Ukraine President, a former pole vaulter also applauded the level of athletics in Belarus. “I participated in the opening of the track and field stadium of Belarusian State University of Physical Training in December 2015, and yesterday I attended the competition for school children Shkoliada. Belarus has many talented kids and good traditions in athletics. Today, the Belarus Athletic Federation is headed by an ambitious young man. All this will help Belarus train new champions,” Sergey Bubka believes.
President of Belarus' National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko suggested granting support to athletes at the end of their career as he attended the 45th session of the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk. Sergey Bubka has been promoting the same initiative in the International Olympic Committee for more than 20 years. “There are many programs in the world. For instance, the NOC of Ukraine gives scholarships to young specialists who have finished their career in sport. We should support the athletes who have devoted many years to professional sports, and it will be wonderful if we manage to establish some specific programs at the international level,” Sergey Bubka said.
