MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) - The well-known ‘sponsors' do not spare money to destabilize the Belarusian society, and some athletes have been sucked into this vortex, Belarus President, President of the National Olympic Committee Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the Olympic meeting of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus on 26 February, BelTA has learned.
Opening the meeting, the head of state said that the time has come to once again discuss the problems related to the development of sport and the Olympic movement in the country, and to renew the composition and leadership of the National Olympic Committee. The Belarusian leader dwelt on the general political agenda at first.
“We are going through tough times right now. We have already talked a lot about it at the Belarusian People's Congress and the time that has passed since then has just confirmed our words. Unfortunately, our country and our people have come under severe pressure in all directions. They resort to any means: from spreading outright fake news and creating an aggressive information environment to intimidation and attempts of terrorist acts. Well-known ‘sponsors' spare no money to destabilize the society,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
Some athletes, mostly former ones, have also been sucked into this vortex of events, the president said. “These athletes were raised by our coaches in sport schools. They were provided with absolutely all necessary conditions to combine studies and training at Olympic reserve schools and universities. The state gave them the opportunity to do sport professionally without being distracted by everyday problems. Our best doctors treated their injuries free of charge. The state did not even abandon them when they were disqualified. Now they are begging international organizations for sanctions against our Olympic movement and the country in general,” the head of state said.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that it was due to them that Belarus was stripped off the right to host the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2021 World Modern Pentathlon Championships. “We will survive all that. I do not think that we have lost something big here. I will only say one thing: you cannot build happiness by betraying your homeland. May God be their judge. Let's close this topic. You all are very well familiar with it,” he added.
