MINSK, 16 December (BelTA) - More than 4,200 athletes, coaches and sport industry workers have supported the address to the Belarusian and international public. The address was launched at athletes.by at the end of November, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian National Olympic Committee (NOC).
Among those who have supported the address are well-known athletes, champions and medalists of the Olympic Games: Aliaksei Abalmasau (canoe sprint), Nikolai Alekhin (fencing), Andrey Barbashinsky (handball), Andrei Bahdanovich and Aliaksandr Bahdanovich (canoe sprint), Sergey Bulygin (biathlon), Ekaterina Karsten (rowing), Dzianis Harazha (canoe sprint), Anton Kushnir (aerials), Ihar Makarau (judo), Aleksandr Maseykov (canoe sprint), Aleksandr Medved (freestyle wrestling), Sergei Martynov (shooting), Yanina Provalinskaya-Korolchik (athletics; shot put), Yelena Khloptseva (rowing), Natalia Tsilinskaya (cycling), Liubou Charkashyna (rhythmic gymnastics), Valery Shary (weightlifting), Igor Lapshin (athletics), Andrei Kulebin and Dmitry Valent (Muay-Thai).
The address has also been signed by prominent athletes who are now preparing for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo: Katsiaryna Halkina (rhythmic gymnastics), Uladzislau Hanrachou (trampoline), Alina Harnasko (rhythmic gymnastics), Yauheni Karaliok (cycling), Iryna Kurachkina (freestyle wrestling), Maryna Litvinchuk (canoe sprint), Vasilisa Marzalyuk (women's wrestling), Mariya Makharynskaya (trampoline), Anastasiya Prokopenko (modern pentathlon), Aleh Rabtsau (trampoline), Anastasiia Salos (rhythmic gymnastics), Aryna Sabalenka (tennis), Hanna Tserakh (cycling), Ivan Tsikhan (athletics), Dzmitry Tratsiakou (canoe sprint), Ali Shabanau (freestyle wrestling), Ibrahim Saidau (freestyle wrestling), Aleksander Hrabovik (Greco-Roman wrestling).
Famous coaches including Olga Vlasova (trampoline), Olena Zubrilova (biathlon), Viktor Kamotski (cross-country skiing), Spartak Mironovich (handball), Irina Leparskaya (rhythmic gymnastics), and Anatoly Varivonchik (ice hockey) also signed the open address.
Athletes and coaches are unanimous in their opinion: the Belarusian Olympic team should perform at the Games under the national flag and should not be subjected to pressure.
