GRODNO, 6 July (BelTA) - The Sport and Tourism Ministry of Belarus and the Ministry of Sports of Russia have signed three cooperation agreements, BelTA has learned.
"We signed a document on cooperation in the fight against doping in sport and a document defining the plan of sports events. This is the basis of our interaction. It is important that everything is not limited to national teams. We also imply cooperation between clubs and university teams. In this regard, Belarus and Russia have a very rich experience. We are ready to share our best practices. We, the Union State, must demonstrate a constructive yet principled approach to the protection of the true values of sport," Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said.
The parties also signed a resolution of the joint collegium of the two ministries. The meetings discussed import substitution in sport. "Today we talked about roller skis. We have experience of producing them and also snow generators, tracks, ski shoes. We are establishing the production of the entire range of ski equipment. Production facilities at Telekhany have been re-equipped. In the near future, we will start making skis for first-level athletes, students of ski schools. We are also interested in ammunition for shooting. Together with Russia we are gaining our experience in this and many other sports. Indeed, the sanctions are here, but together we will cope and reach a new level in this area," Belarus' Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said.
Oleg Matytsin suggested developing a strategic view on this issue. "The task is not to produce something quickly. The task is long term: to develop technical specifications for the production of gear and equipment and to ensure an order intake," he said.
The Russia minister noted: "Our countries have great potential in sport and sports technologies. Now it is time to analyze resources, to reformat the system of holding competitions. We believe we should work closely on the sports calendar, scientific research, interaction between university communities.” Oleg Matytsin added that the document on the sports calendar will become the basis for joint work in 2022 and next year. "We are not closing ourselves off from the international community. We are ready to cooperate with countries that support our position on the inadmissibility of politicizing sports, disqualifying athletes," he concluded.
The day before the Russian delegation visited the recreation center Prival, Fort No. 2 in the village of Naumovichi in Grodno District, the 1st border outpost named after Viktor Usov. The guests also toured the Lesnaya-Rudavka checkpoint, a bicycle path from the checkpoint to the Dombrovka sluice on the Augustow Canal, the canal itself and the infrastructure of the Grodno forestry.
