MINSK, 23 April (BelTA) – Belarus' first National Athletes Forum kicked off in Minsk on 23 April, BelTA has learned.
The event has brought together about 170 people: champions and medalists of the Olympic Games, well-known Belarusian athletes, coaches, leaders and representatives of physical education and sport organizations, which is running in the form of an interactive training seminar and a discussion.
The main theme of the project is the socialization of professional athletes after retirement and the use of their potential as employees and active members of society.
Over the course of two days, participants will hold a number of educational events to acquire new knowledge in career management and develop practical skills to build a successful career and promote a personal brand after retirement from sport.
The forum will also elect members of the Athletes Commission of the NOC of Belarus. Twenty people have been nominated, of whom only 10 will be able to join the commission. Only athletes participating in the event will vote for the candidates.
"The forum has gathered both active athletes and those who have already retired. I'm sure it will be a useful exchange of experience for all of you. Sooner or later, athletes have to retire. Mentors will share their best practices and ways to build life after retirement. Our country pays great attention to both current and retired athletes. You serve as an example for younger generation how to excel in elite sport and also how to reinvent yourselves after the sporting career is over,” Viktor Lukashenko, President of the NOC of Belarus, said as he greeted the forum participants.
Among the guests of honor were Rector of the Russian International Olympic University Lev Belousov, mentor of commercial projects in sport and health, managing partner of sports marketing agency Newman Sport, co-founder of international triathlon competitions IRONSTAR and the running festival ROSA RUN Vladimir Voloshin, two-time Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics Svetlana Khorkina, business leader with 20 years of experience in human resource management Marina Pochinok, two-time bronze medalist in speed skating at the 2006 and 2014 Games Ekaterina Lobysheva. The discussion is moderated by famous Russian commentator Georgy Cherdantsev.
All participants of the forum will receive international certificates of Russian International Olympic University, confirming their participation in the 16-hour educational seminar. The event has been organized by the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus and Russian International Olympic University.
Photos by Andrei Pokumeiko
