MINSK, 8 September (BelTA) – The team of the National Olympic Committee featuring Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko won the roller-ski race among the teams of law enforcement agencies and government bodies on the Minsk City Day, BelTA has learned.
In the 4x2.8km relay the four-member team featuring the head of state also included Olympic biathlon champion Nadezhda Skardino, skaters Marina Zueva and Ignat Golovatyuk. Alexander Lukashenko competed in the final leg and finished first.
The team of the State Security Committee (KGB) came in second and the team of the Sport and Tourism Ministry third. The minister Sergei Kovalchuk ran the final leg in the relay. According to the regulations of the relay, the heads of ministries and departments shall be the final-leg runners. Therefore, the judges ruled to give the silver medal to the team of the Sport and Tourism Ministry and the bronze medal to the KGB team.
“This is the fourth time I have roller-skied in my life. I am used to skiing. However, we did good. The team places are not the most important thing at such a sports festival. The main thing is the emotions. Many people came to see the event. The atmosphere is wonderful,” Sergei Kovalchuk said.
Competing in the relay were also the teams of the State Border Committee, the State Customs Committee, the Eduction Ministry, the Emergencies Ministry, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Healthcare Ministry and the Defense Ministry. The Emergencies Ministry fielded two teams.
Before the start of the event the head of state did a warm-up and also talked to athletes of the national speed skating team Marina Zueva and Ignat Golovatyuk who will compete in the roller marathon.
The big sport festival continues with the events in fire-rescue sport, 3x3 basketball, Star Regatta, volleyball and chess and the roller marathon featuring top athletes from Belarus and other countries.
Photos by Nikolai Petrov and Andrei Stasevich
