MINSK, 23 March (BelTA) – All the necessary conditions for the development of Paralympic sports have been enabled in Belarus, BelTA learned from Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko.
Igor Petrishenko said: “Today we are holding another session of the interagency council on affairs of people with disabilities. Article 47 of the updated Constitution reads that the state takes care of physically challenged citizens and takes every measure to ensure full realization of their rights and freedoms.”
The official remarked that Paralympic sports are actively developed in Belarus. “At present we have 150 facilities, which allow physically challenged people to work out. About 22,500 people with disabilities regularly go in for sports. Over 500 people are members of the Belarusian Paralympic team. Belarus' existing physical infrastructure allows our Paralympians to actively develop. We are very proud of their accomplishments during last year's Paralympics where our athletes won seven medals,” Igor Petrishenko noted.
He stressed that international norms in the sphere of sports are not fully observed these days. “The so-called collective West has restricted the right of Belarusian and Russian Paralympians to participate in international competitions. Our athletes had already arrived for competitions in China where they received a true emotional blow. We promptly responded to it and regrouped. Our athletes were very friendly received like brothers during competitions in Khanty-Mansiysk. The Belarusian Paralympians won 16 medals there and it became a motivating factor for them,” Igor Petrishenko believes.
In conclusion the official said that all the social guarantees for elderly people and people with disabilities are observed in the Republic of Belarus. Close attention is paid to physically challenged children.
