NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) - Belarusian athletes plan to take part in the competitions in Asian countries ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation Ivan Tsikhan said in a new episode of BelTA's YouTube project "After the Fact: Lukashenko's Decisions".
“We are gearing up for the Olympics. Training models have been agreed. The national team has been attested. Everyone is in high competitive spirit, but, unfortunately, there are some issues related to our ban from international competitions. We cannot even compete with athletes of the Russian Federation, because they are banned. If we go to their competitions, we will also get banned. They cannot come to us, because they will violate their obligations. We are negotiating with the Asian countries to give our leading athletes an opportunity to travel to their domestic championships and demonstrate their level there and get practice of participation in international competitions,” said Ivan Tsikhan.
According to the chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation, necessary conditions for Belarusian athletes have been created to compete inside the country, but without international competitive practice it will be difficult to prepare for the Olympics. “We plan one to three events. We want to adjust the training of our athletes to these competitions, so they could demonstrate their best there and qualify for the Olympics,” he added.
Ivan Tsikhan explained that the Asian Games would be held in China in autumn 2023. India and Iran have invited Belarusians to their competitions.
This year Olympic medalist Aliaksei Katkavets set a new national record in javelin throwing. Another 30-year-old national record was broken by runner Illia Karnavukhau. Javelin thrower Tatsiana Khaladovich are showing good results as well. According to Ivan Tsikhan, she could win medals at world and European championships.
“There will be someone to root for. We were not allowed to compete internationally, but it did not break our athletes. On the contrary, they are showing good results. This worked as a kind of some stimulus for them. They are now building up the potential and energy to go out there and show what they are capable of,” the head of the federation said.
