MINSK, 22 May (BelTA) – Every condition has been created for athletes to train in isolation, Deputy Director of the Raubichi Olympic Center Yegor Khmelkov told the media, BelTA has learned.
“About 230 people are staying here at the moment. These are athletes, coaches, and support staff. Athletes are currently training in eight sports: biathlon, skiing, ice hockey, speed skating, athletics, cycling, triathlon, and kickboxing. Comfortable training conditions have been created for them, taking into account the situation,” Yegor Khmelkov said.
Basketball, handball and volleyball athletes are soon expected to come for training camps in Raubichi. “Everything necessary is done to keep the athletes fit and provide them with the opportunity to continue training despite the circumstances,” the deputy director said.
According to him, measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the viral infection in the center. For example, the center has banned access to outsiders, has split the flows of athletes both in terms of training and meals. Everything has been done to make sure representatives of different sports do not intersect with each other. The premises are thoroughly cleaned, equipment treated with disinfectants. The athletes and their health are carefully monitored.
Yegor Khmelkov added that when the athletes returned from abroad, they were sent to four facilities for 14-day isolation. One of them was Raubichi that did a great job during this time.
Sports doctor Pavel Malashevich noted that a lot of attention is given to the examination of athletes, including for viral infections. “The first thing we did was to split the teams by time and place of training, movement, food. There were seasonal cases of flu in Raubichi. We used rapid testing to detect the new coronavirus. Fortunately, we have not had a single case of COVID-19 so far," he said.
As for today, 74 Belarusian athletes competing in 16 sports have qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Olympic qualifying tournaments have been postponed in the light of the COVID-19. Once they resume, the Belarusian athletes aim to win dozens of Olympic berths.
The 32nd Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo will take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021.
Photos by Andrei Pokumeiko
