MINSK, 28 April (BelTA) – The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus will always defend the interests of its athletes to protect their rights and enable them perform in all big international tournaments, President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko said at the 2nd National Athletes Forum in Minsk on 28 April, BelTA has learned.
According to the NOC head, today the Olympic movement is going through difficult times and it is necessary to provide all necessary assistance to athletes in this time of crisis. “That is why it is crucial to work together with our Russian counterparts to look into areas and make decisions which will help us cope with this difficult situation. All athletes are interested in the successful development of the Olympic movement and sports in general and can always count on support. Throughout our sovereign history, Belarus has been creating the right conditions for athletes to train, develop and win at competitions of all levels. This policy will be continued,” the president of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus stressed.
In his opinion, the crisis period always gives us a chance to achieve new results and opens up new opportunities: “There is only one recipe for success - while others are recovering, we are acting. We must under no circumstances yield to provocation, and must rely only on common sense, our own strength and like-minded people. As the saying goes: What does not kill us makes us stronger.”
That is why an open professional dialogue with Russian counterparts will serve the interests of sports development and strengthen mutual respect and trust, while the implementation of the proposals that will be worked out will become a significant contribution to achieving the large-scale goals that the two Olympic committees are facing. “Belarus will share its experience in holding competitions, which comprise the whole range of sports events: from small tournaments to the largest ones,” said Viktor Lukashenko.
