Aleksandr Lukashenko holds meeting to discuss problems of BFSO Dinamo and the ways of addressing them

President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko demands greater efficiency from athletes, and said that big money will be allocated for strong performance only. The Belarusian head of state made this statement at a government meeting to discuss problems of BFSO Dinamo and the ways of addressing them.

According to Aleksandr Lukashenko, a lot is being done to develop sports in the country, especially in what concerns the infrastructure. Necessary efforts have been made to enable residents of every region to take up any kind of sport today. The state injects huge funds into the sport industry, and it has every right to expect effective performance and high achievements.

According to the head of state, poor performance by Belarus’ leading clubs, athletes at the international competitions shows that there are still too many problems in the sector. In his words, the first steps to address them have already been made, including in BFSO Dinamo.

“We have replaced its top executives. We put in place a troika consisting of the Sports and Tourism Minister, the President’s Aide in Physical Education, Sports and Tourism and the First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee. They are in charge of the situation in sports and answerable to the President,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “It is time they provided their first reports,” he added.

The meeting mainly focuses on the improvement of the activity of BFSO Dinamo. “The place and the role of the association in the national system of physical education and sports have not been determined yet. The mechanism of cooperation between the association and other sports organizations is still underdeveloped. The current operational framework of the association is unable to address the present issues. There are no permanent off-budget financing resources,” he said.

BFSO Dinamo has a special role in the country's sports architecture, said Aleksandr Lukashenko. According to the head of state, BFSO Dinamo should be engaged in the development of elite sport, training of the sports talent pool and also the activities of the security and law enforcement bodies of our country. The meeting considered which specific steps are being taken to accomplish these tasks, what prevents the effective work.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed: "Some time has passed since the major decisions were taken to regulate financial issues in sport industry. The number of those unhappy with the decision has increased. What are they unhappy about? They are not happy that the state does not give money. They want to get paid $10,000 per month, not $2,000,” the President noted.

In this regard, the President said: "We will pay money to the athletes to prepare for international meets and championships. But an athlete wil get the principal income only for the solid performance. Not for the 21st and 41st places at the international championships but for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.”

“Many will complain saying that they need to live, work and work hard before the event. But they have salaries to live on and work,” the President said. Aleksandr Lukashenko stated that the time of easy money in sport is over: "You show a good result, you get good money. No result, no money.”

The head of state also touched on the topic of sports clubs. He noted that there are quite a few problems. "Where are we on this now? We have developed the club system. Former sportsmen now became officials in clubs. Now they are the club managers with 10 assistants, 100 officials and a small team of 20-30 athletes, 3 coaches. Who gets the main income? Of course, the club officials do. I think ministers would be envious of the wages they get at sports clubs. We need to sort things our here as well,” he said.

According to him, the club is an enterprise that should make money. "You earn money, you spend it. You spend as much as you earn," the President said.

The head of state remarked that "the state should pay subsidies only to athletes, coaches, doctors and a few specialists-servicemen".

The President stressed the importance of the children's sports development in the country, without which there is no elite sport.

The meeting also touched upon the issue related to the reconstruction of Dinamo Stadium in Minsk. Alexander Luaskhenko believes that the stadium necessitates an extensive repair and there is no need to construct a new stadium on its place,

“There will be a track-and-field stadium for football. We will be able to host a leg of the Diamond League and the European and World Athletics Championships. We have a reserve training stadium, we will bring it to order,” the head of state said.

“We need a European-level stadium for a 35,000-strong audience. Lokomotiv Stadium in Moscow is a good example. We need a comfortable national stadium,” the President said.

“The funds we have planned to spend on pulling Dinamo Stadium down and building up a new one will be enough to restore the stadium and build one more,” the Belarusian head of state noted.

Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko reported on the 2013 sports results. This year Belarusian athletes won just one gold medal at 15 world championships (7 winter and 8 summer sports).

According to the Minister, before the end of the year Belarus will field 12 national teams for the world championships in the sports where Belarusians traditionally show high results. It is expected that they will win 15-17 medals.

Among the positive moments Alexander Shamko singled out the Belarusian handball team, who for the first time in many years, advanced to the finals of the World Championship and also the fencing team.

The teams in freestyle skiing, ice hockey, cross-country skiing, track cycling, Alpine skiing, snowboarding, short track speed skating, figure skating, synchronized swimming, and badminton have done poorly.

The Minister noted that there are promising young athletes. But time is needed before they start showing good results at the world championships.

According to him, the state has done a lot to develop the world-class sports infrastructure. The athletes are expected to just work hard and produce good results.

The Minister also noted that the work on optimization of the sports industry, including the management of the national teams continues. "The new management system, which we are implementing today, will lead to more effective management and spending," said Alexander Shamko.

At the government meeting Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed his dissatisfaction of the current situation in the Belarusian sport.

“Everything is very bad right now. I want to warn the troika that starting with the winter Olympics you provide full reports to me. You are totally responsible for the results at the Olympics and every competition after the games. I support you on every issue. Start working,” the President said.

The head of state noted that the heads of the federations should know the most promising, best coaches both inside the country and abroad, support talented athletes.

As for financing, wages will directly depend on the performance.

“There is nothing to boast about. We will pay big money to those who represent the country on the international level. We will have top clubs, and athletes will be encouraged to get there and earn big money,” the President stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko added that the activity of every federation would be considered in detail.