MINSK, 15 January (BelTA) - The past Olympic cycle was one of the most difficult in the history of Belarusian sport, President of the Belarusian National Olympic Committee Viktor Lukashenko said at the NOC General Assembly, BelTA learned.
“Perhaps the period from 2021 to 2024 was the most difficult in the history of sovereign Belarus. There were COVID restrictions, then groundless political measures against our athletes. Three years later, we can state that the sanctions by the International Olympic Committee are doing more harm to the IOC reputation than good,” said the head of the NOC. “At the same time, we see the IOC's willingness to return our athletes to international competitions and restore the integrity of competitions, but some federations continue to play a foul game, suspending Belarusians from the tournaments held under their auspices.”
The NOC president also emphasized that majority of the sports community understands the need to return our athletes to the international arena and assists the NOC. “Huge work is being done with the IOC and the federations to restore the rights of our athletes to participate in competitions in full format, with the flag and anthem, but first in neutral status. It is especially difficult to deal with the federations of winter sports, but recently the ice has broken. I hope that our athletes in winter sprots will gradually return to international competitions, just like our teams in game sports.”
At the opening of the General Assembly, champion of the Paris Olympics Ivan Litvinovich and medalists of the Olympic Games Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, Yauheni Zalaty and Yauheni Tsikhantsou were awarded the Badge of Honor for services to the development of the Olympic movement in the Republic of Belarus. NOC medals For Outstanding Services were presented to the national team coaches Olga Vlasova (trampoline), Vitaly Bely (rowing) and Valery Sizenok (weightlifting).
“Perhaps the period from 2021 to 2024 was the most difficult in the history of sovereign Belarus. There were COVID restrictions, then groundless political measures against our athletes. Three years later, we can state that the sanctions by the International Olympic Committee are doing more harm to the IOC reputation than good,” said the head of the NOC. “At the same time, we see the IOC's willingness to return our athletes to international competitions and restore the integrity of competitions, but some federations continue to play a foul game, suspending Belarusians from the tournaments held under their auspices.”
The NOC president also emphasized that majority of the sports community understands the need to return our athletes to the international arena and assists the NOC. “Huge work is being done with the IOC and the federations to restore the rights of our athletes to participate in competitions in full format, with the flag and anthem, but first in neutral status. It is especially difficult to deal with the federations of winter sports, but recently the ice has broken. I hope that our athletes in winter sprots will gradually return to international competitions, just like our teams in game sports.”
At the opening of the General Assembly, champion of the Paris Olympics Ivan Litvinovich and medalists of the Olympic Games Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, Yauheni Zalaty and Yauheni Tsikhantsou were awarded the Badge of Honor for services to the development of the Olympic movement in the Republic of Belarus. NOC medals For Outstanding Services were presented to the national team coaches Olga Vlasova (trampoline), Vitaly Bely (rowing) and Valery Sizenok (weightlifting).
NOC photos
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