Olympic meeting of Belarus’ National Olympic Committee

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko hosted the Olympic meeting of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 26 February.

Opening the meeting, the head of state said that the time has come to once again discuss the problems related to the development of sport and the Olympic movement in the country, and to renew the composition and leadership of the National Olympic Committee. The Belarusian leader dwelt on the general political agenda at first.

“We are going through tough times right now. We have already talked a lot about it at the Belarusian People's Congress and the time that has passed since then has just confirmed our words. Unfortunately, our country and our people have come under severe pressure in all directions. They resort to any means: from spreading outright fake news and creating an aggressive information environment to intimidation and attempts of terrorist acts. Well-known ‘sponsors’ spare no money to destabilize the society,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Some athletes, mostly former ones, have also been sucked into this vortex of events, the President said. “These athletes were raised by our coaches in sport schools. They were provided with absolutely all necessary conditions to combine studies and training at Olympic reserve schools and universities. The state gave them the opportunity to do sport professionally without being distracted by everyday problems. Our best doctors treated their injuries free of charge. The state did not even abandon them when they were disqualified. Now they are begging international organizations for sanctions against our Olympic movement and the country in general,” the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that it was due to them that Belarus was stripped off the right to host the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2021 World Modern Pentathlon Championships. “We will survive all that. I do not think that we have lost something big here. I will only say one thing: you cannot build happiness by betraying your homeland. May God be their judge. Let's close this topic. You all are very well familiar with it,” he added.

“We are proud of our athletes. The absolute majority of Belarusian athletes are true patriots of their country giving their talent, strength and energy for victories in the name of the Fatherland,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The head of state remarked that the meeting at the National Olympic Committee has brought together the elite of Belarusian sport. Representatives of all sports public organizations of the country, coaches, athletes, directors of national Olympic training centers, vice governors, heads of government bodies supporting different sports are attending.

“You are doing your best to create the sports glory of Belarus. And you will make decisions on the further development of the Olympic movement in the country, determine priorities of work, and evaluate results. You will be an example for new generations of Belarusian athletes,” the President said.

Top on the agenda of the meeting were preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The head of state asked senior officials of the Sports and Tourism Ministry what lessons were learned from the Rio Olympics and what was done to improve the training process.

“As always, there are many expectations and promises. Although the Olympic selection for Tokyo is not over yet, it is already clear that our team sports (with the exception of 3x3 basketball) have failed. There are no licenses in boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and fencing yet. We expect more from wrestlers, track-and-field athletes, and shooters,” the President emphasized.

The head of state noted that in recent years Belarus has significantly improved the infrastructure of mass and elite sports. Belarus kept holding competitions and national championships despite the pandemic and widespread lockdown. No other countries in the world could offer such training opportunities as Belarus did.

“Despite the absence of official competitions, I responded to your request to extend the payment of presidential scholarships for a year to athletes and coaches seeking to take part in the Olympics. Everything possible and impossible was done for athletes and coaches in these difficult conditions. Therefore, the primary task for the coming months is to put together an efficient team for Tokyo. Excuses are not accepted, and there cannot be any! We do need a ‘combat-ready’ squad in Tokyo. We will go there to fight, it will not be easy for us. There will be attempts from all the sides to crush us, the same way as Russia,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

According to the President, real champions are those who are able to deliver results in any conditions, against all the odds, in the face of fierce competition and intrigues of jealous people; real champions are those who score impressive victories for their country, family and friends, coaches and teammates.

The head of state also recalled that the Olympic Games will be held amidst unprecedented COVID-19 measures and restrictions, and this should be taken into account, because anything can happen. The President emphasized that it is necessary to be prepared to address issues related to acclimatization of athletes, the transfer of the delegation and cargo to the Olympic Village, the organization of training, everyday life and medical services.

“Everything is in place to help our athletes perform well. If more is needed, more will be done. Everything depends on athletes. What else should be done to make sure that our performance in Tokyo will not be embarrassing? Let’s have a meaningful and candid discussion of what else needs to be done. Tactics and strategies have long been known, they have been determined. Athletes and especially coaches know very well how to help athletes reach their peak performance. Please go ahead and do it. I repeat once again: say what you need and we will take additional measures,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“We are going to the Tokyo Olympics to fight. And the more pressure is put on people the more they resist. In these conditions you need to reach great results to prove that we weren’t born yesterday,” the Belarusian leader stressed.

He criticized the performance of Belarusian athletes in some sports. In particular, the head of state mentioned the unsuccessful performance of the Belarusian ice hockey team at the tournament in Kazakhstan. “They finished last,” the President noted. “How much did it cost to go there and back? And there are explanations again: you see, we don’t have children’s hockey.”

“It is good that they at least won a match against Dinamo [the match Dinamo Riga vs. Dinamo Minsk when Belarusian hockey players won 2-1]. Thank you,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The President also mentioned the performance of Team Belarus at the 2021 IBU World Championships Biathlon. “What about the ‘wonders’ at the recent biathlon worlds?” he asked. “I don’t know what they will explain here.”

“Or they went to Egypt, played handball [the 2021 IHF Men's World Championship which took place in Cairo in January],” the Belarusian leader continued. “I don’t understand how they could lead with 7-8 goals, then fail completely and lose even more in the same period.”

The head of state emphasized that a necessary basis for the training of athletes in different sports has been created in Belarus. “I do not understand what they lack to prepare well in their sports. I remember the first steps after the collapse of the Soviet Union. We can say that those athletes had nowhere to train,” he said. “Now they have the best facilities.” For example, a modern cycling track meeting all standards was built in Minsk. “And not think that tomorrow we will start copying Minsk in regions. It is not necessary for such a small country. Any athlete can come to Minsk and train here, at this cycling track,” the head of state said.

Addressing the sports minister, the President emphasized: “Sergei Mikhailovich, we need results. You know what the conversation will be like if our athletes fail at the Olympic Games.”

“You need to produce results! I understand that it is sport. But give your all and show that you can,” the President said.

After the report of the minister on the preparations for the forthcoming Olympic Games the head of state talked to heads of sports federations. They discussed what else could be done to improve the preparations for the Olympic Games and to ensure good performance. The participants of the Olympic meeting assured that the state had provided all necessary support and assistance. They expressed hope that the performance of Belarusian athletes at the Olympic Games in Tokyo will be a success. In their opinion, athletes need, first of all, to keep their fighting spirit. As far as the material and technical base is concerned, it has been created, all necessary tools are available.

Viktor Lukashenko, who until now served as the First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, was elected President of the NOC by the Olympic Assembly.

NOC Secretary General Polina Golovina initially proposed two candidatures for the post of NOC President - Aleksandr Lukashenko and Viktor Lukashenko. “We have received proposals to nominate two candidatures,” she said.

“This is news to me that you nominated two candidatures. I thought there would be one. I did not plan to get nominated as the head of the National Olympic Committee for another term. I'll ask you, if this is ok with you, to vote for my eldest son. I vouch for him. There will be no theft, corruption, misuse of money under his leadership. Athletes and coaches will be treated kind and fair. As for me, I will still keep in touch with what is going in sport," Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He stressed that he is an avid sport fan and noted that he took charge of the NOC in the difficult 1990s to make sure things were taken care of otherwise sport would cease to exist in the country. "The only reason was to retain centralized management in sport, to ensure that federations did not compete with each other, like we saw it happened in some countries, to prevent federation heads from fighting with coaches," the President said.

“I tried to give you as much as I could. I know what sport is about. This is my love and passion,” the head of state said. “I think you can benefit from this, too. After all, the son can promptly reach his father whenever any issue arises. I think this will make things easier in a number of ways,” the President said.

“Most importantly, you hear a lot of speculations about the transfer of power. They say that Lukashenko will transfer power to the elder son to run the country. I have often said that this matter has never been discussed in our family, because none of my children will succeed me as Belarus President. If you elect Viktor, he will no longer be a civil servant. He will be relieved of his post as Aide to the President for National Security with all the ensuing consequences. I neither put pressure on you nor insist. This is your choice,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

The position of the honorary president of the National Olympic Committee is stipulated in the new wording of the NOC Charter which was adopted at the Olympic meeting on 26 February. However, the issue of electing the honorary president of the NOC was not included in the agenda of the meeting.

Such an initiative was suggested by Anton Yuspa, deputy chairman of the Street Sports Federation. “Aleksandr Grigoriyevich [Lukashenko] has made a significant contribution to the development of the Olympic movement and sports in the country. I think this is the most significant contribution in the history of our country. If it is appropriate here, I would like to nominate Aleksandr Grigoriyevich for the position of NOC honorary president,” he said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko, however, considered this proposal premature and declined. “We do not have to do it now. It has been done for the future,” the President said. The head of state added that, as President, he would remain involved in sport issues in the country.

“This time is special, like never before. We must show that we are a nation,” the head of state emphasized. “You should thank our people for what they did to make it possible for athletes to fight and compete.”

As an example, the President mentioned Belarusian Paralympic athletes, their strength of spirit and will to win. In his opinion, these people are true heroes because they know how to fight. “Sport is sport, anything can happen. But show that you fought, used every opportunity to win. This is the main thing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Therefore, we need to go to Tokyo and to show that we are a nation, that we are strong competitors. I want to give advice to coaches and to ask them: be patriots, and you will not be ashamed later. It is not your function to go abroad and stand on your knees begging for money. Those who let the country have now launched a crazy fight: they lack money. It’s a shame.”