MINSK, 6 January (BelTA) – Players of the Belarus President's ice hockey team, workers of the President's Sports Club and the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation brought gifts to children of Minsk orphanage No.5 as part of the Christmas Tradition charity campaign, BelTA has learned.
“It is a great pleasure to wish you all a Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas. We wish you strong health and the fulfillment of all your wishes. Dear children, please practice sports and do creative things. Appreciate the good and the knowledge that teachers give you. Be smart, educated and kind. You are our future,” Andrei Karpovich, Deputy Chairman of the Central Council of the President's Sports Club, said in his welcoming speech.
Representatives of the Belarus President's ice hockey team and the children of the orphanage took part in a New Year's performance and various contests. The guests exchanged souvenirs with the children and presented gifts: an ice hockey jersey with the autographs of the president and the players, and bicycles.
“It has become a good tradition in our team to pay visits on Christmas Eve to those who lack parental care and love. Every time your heart fills with joy and miracles. These are overwhelming emotions and every time such things make you think about your mission in life and kind attitude to each other,” said Andrei Bashko, a defender of the Belarus President's team and Sports Director of the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.
Minsk orphanage No. 5 is home to 75 children aged 4-18. They go hiking, play ice hockey, soccer, table tennis, basketball, do athletic gymnastics and karate.
Children also attend activity workshops to learn to draw, dance, sing, and play musical instruments. They regularly participate in various creative contests and sports competitions at the district and city levels.
The Christmas Tradition charity campaign has been taking place this year for the ninth time. Over the time starting from 2013, the players of the Belarus President's Team have visited seven social and pedagogical centers of Minsk, a family-type children's home in Minsk District, the Children's Town of Leninsky District of Minsk, the Istoki Children's Village, the Radoshkovichi boarding school for orphans and children left without parental care, Molodechno Special General Education Boarding School No.2 for children with visual impairments, Minsk orphanage No.5 and orphanage No.7, four family-type orphanages in the Frunzensnsky district of Minsk. The aid was provided to a total of about 900 children.
The cancellation of the international amateur ice hockey tournament for the prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus because of the coronavirus pandemic did not prevent the Belarus President's Team to continue this tradition in 2021.
The charity campaign is organized by the President's Sports Club jointly with the Belarusian Ice Hockey Federation.
Photos by Oksana Manchuk
