MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) – An official opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2021 and the large-scale defense technology forum Army 2021 took place in Alabino, Moscow Oblast, Russia on 23 August. A Belarusian delegation led by Defense Minister, Lieutenant-General Viktor Khrenin attended the opening ceremony. The most thrilling event of the games – a tank biathlon – was launched there, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA.
The Belarusian defense minister met with Belarusian armor crewmen and wished them good performance. Viktor Khrenin noted the team had been trained well.
Viktor Khrenin stressed that it is the seventh year the International Army Games have been organized. The scale and the geography of the games grow larger every year. Within this short period of time the games have become a good contest venue, a kind of military Olympics. Virtually one third of the countries of the world is taking part in this year's International Army Games. “This is why participation in them is so important. Our teams will take part in 27 contests out of 34 ones,” the defense minister said. “Which means a lot. During the games our military personnel share experience and skills and learn something for themselves. Cooperation with the Russian Federation – our strategic partner – is important, too. Russians have combat experience and they share it with us. As for the guys' training and their forthcoming performances, I don't want to jump ahead of myself. I am convinced they will do well.”
Viktor Khrenin also stressed: “It is also important that army conscripts constitute 50% of the personnel in our teams. They have gone through a rigorous selection process and have been trained well. They demonstrate good results as part of the national team. No doubt we have serious competition. But we have something to show, too.”
