MINSK, 30 March (BelTA) - Belarusian and Russian athletes have shown their unity not in words, but in deeds, Belarusian Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said as he addressed the forum "We Are Together. Sport" in Moscow, BelTA learned from the Sport and Tourism Ministry.
“We did not hesitate to come here to show, not in words but in deeds, that we are together, that we want to see sport free of politics. I would like to thank Bashkortostan for the prompt decision to hold the biathlon competition in Ufa. I would like to address special words of gratitude to Khanty-Mansiysk and the Paralympic Committee of Russia,” Sergei Kovalchuk noted. “Belarusian athletes faced the unprecedented pressure in preparation for the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Beijing. We stood tall. The athletes carried the national flag holding their heads high. This is how it will be in the future.”
Sergei Kovalchuk also noted that Russia is able to hold any tournament. "You have everything for this. A huge country, excellent infrastructure. People deserve to sports competitions inside the country and we have something to show them. Imagine martial arts, rhythmic gymnastics, figure skating tournaments without Russians and Belarusians...Who will benefit from this today?” Sergei Kovalchuk added. “We will be happy to welcome athletes from Russia to competitions and training camps. We are ready to hold events and Universiades together. We are ready to expand the participation of our universities in these competitions.”
Moscow played host to the forum "We Are Together. Sport" on 30 and 31 March. Experts and specialists in sport and also government officials discussed the strategy for the development of physical culture and sports in the Russian Federation until 2030.
