MINSK, 19 November (BelTA) – Belarus' achievements in the international sport arena are insufficient, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus on 19 November, BelTA has learned.
Keeping in mind that some six months are left before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized the need to focus on summer Olympic sports. Almost all the world championships in 2019 are over and it is already possible to make some concrete conclusions on the results.
According to the president, Belarusian athletes have won only eight medals, including two gold medals, at this year's world championships. Most of them were secured in kayak and canoe. Modern pentathletes have been showing stable performance over the past few years as well. “But these are just two medals events at the Olympics. What is for the rest? We won no medals in boxing, cycling, rhythmic gymnastics. We have no achievements in swimming, athletics, judo, fencing, shooting, gymnastics, and rowing," said the head of state.
What else athletes still lack in these sports, Aleksandr Lukashenko asked a rhetorical question as all the necessary conditions have been created for their development.
The weightlifting team has one silver, wrestlers one bronze. “These are the sports which until recently were considered the signature sports of Belarus,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
“Team sports is another topic. They are truly loved and supported by fans. For you the country has created excellent conditions, spends a lot of money but sees no results in return. Just promises," the Belarusian leader stressed. "There are not even trends towards improvement in some sports. We hear almost nothing about volleyball or water polo,” the president added.
With the arrival of the Dutch coach, some hopes were placed on the women's grass hockey team but the qualifying was still a failure, Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
These are only the women's 3x3 basketball team, the men's handball team and beach volleyball team that have a chance to make it to the Olympics.
“Don't tell me about decorated athletes from among competitors. Everyone has a chance to win a license. We must show character and will to win!” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.
