MOSCOW, 1 June (BelTA) - Belarus and Russia together with other countries should set up their own independent sports leagues in response to the sanctions pressure, President of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation and head coach of the Russian national team Irina Viner-Usmanova told BelTA.
“Belarus, Russia, the SCO and BRICS countries should set up their own leagues and organize competitions like a league in ice hockey - they participate neither in world championships nor the Olympics, they have their own competition which is hugely successful. I think it should be done the same here,” said Irina Viner-Usmanova.
"We have very good prospects. We should do our best to ensure that the policy of sport unites us in a new way and allows us to show the highest results regardless of the world championships and the Olympic Games,” she added.
Today the International Forum for Young Olympians kicked off in Irina Viner-Usmanova's Gymnastics Palace in Moscow on 1 June. Taking part in the forum is also a big Belarusian delegation comprising over 60 young athletes representing 22 sports. Within the two-day event they will get familiar with the latest developments in physical and special training, psychology, rehabilitation after injuries and anti-doping programs. Seminars and lectures will be conducted by Russia's leading specialists in reserve sports training.
The Belarusian delegation includes children who have already achieved certain success, winners of the Belarusian championships and various international competitions: Lizaveta Laurynovich (modern pentathlon), Ramin Mekhdiyev (freestyle wrestling), Valeriya Shymanskaya (synchronized swimming), Kseniya Stseshyts (rhythmic gymnastics). Taking part in the forum as guests are Olympic champion Alla Tsuper (aerials skiing), world biathlon champion Elena Zubrilova and medalist of the world and European rhythmic gymnastics championships Katsiaryna Halkina and others.
