MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – Both young and experienced Belarusian athletes have the prospects for winning medals in Tokyo, Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said at the NOC Olympic meeting in Minsk on 26 February, BelTA has learned.
“There are prospects to win medals by both the eminent and young athletes who can represent our country decently in Tokyo. We pin our major hopes on canoe sprint, wrestling, weightlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, modern pentathlon and tennis. Some rapidly progressing young swimmers and track and field athletes are also capable of showing their best at the Tokyo Games,” said Sergei Kovalchuk.
All the athletes who have previously fulfilled necessary Olympic qualifying requirements and standards (won licenses) retain the right to participate in the Games. So far a total of 74 Belarusian athletes in 16 sports have qualified for the Olympic Games.
The main task for now is to successfully complete the qualifying stage and compose a competitive Olympic team of Belarus. Plans are in place to secure some 110-120 berths by the end of the Olympic qualifying period.
The Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo are scheduled to take place on 23 July-8 August 2021.
