Belarusian NOC General Assembly marks 35th anniversary

The General Assembly of the NOC of Belarus reviewed the organization’s performance.

Before the start of the meeting, First Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration o Vladimir Pertsov read out a congratulatory address from Aleksandr Lukashenko on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the NOC of Belarus.

Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich, in her speech, highlighted an important characteristic of the Belarusian Olympic Committee.

“The significance and unique quality of the NOC of Belarus lie in the wisdom and skillful maintenance of a balance between state support and independent support, as required by the Olympic Charter. To be honest, achieving this balance and combination is extremely difficult, and it seems to me that our country and our Olympic committee are among the few that have managed to maintain this balance for many years. Thank you very much for the work you do,” Natalya Petkevich noted.

The General Assembly summarized the results of the work, approved the report of the auditing commission, admitted the new members to the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus and discussed other relevant topics.

President of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko delivered a report from the Executive Board and noted that the Olympic achievements of Belarusian athletes have become a symbol of the resilience and talent of our people. He also thanked all those present for the congratulations that have been coming to the NOC since Sunday, saying it is deeply appreciated.

“Today, looking back, we see not just dry statistics, but a living chronicle of victories behind which lie the destinies of great athletes and the selfless work of coaches.”

The head of the Olympic committee noted that the 35th anniversary of the NOC of Belarus represents the continuity of generations - from the wisdom of the first delegates of the founding conference to the energy of young champions who are writing history today; it represents international prestige - three decades of active dialogue with the global Olympic movement and the promotion of the true values of sport; it represents the infrastructure of the future - modern sports facilities that have become a source of pride for the country and a breeding ground for new talent.

“At this General Assembly, we not only pay tribute to those who stood at the origins, but also chart new ways. New competitions and difficult challenges lie ahead, and we are confident that even brighter triumphs will come under the sign of the Olympic rings.”

“This milestone is the achievement of each and every one of you,” Viktor Lukashenko said addressing the General Assembly participants. “I wholeheartedly congratulate you, friends, on the 35th anniversary of our common home - the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus!”

Viktor Lukashenko emphasized that a year ago, the General Assembly summed up the results of the four-year period and took note of the unprecedented challenges of that time - from COVID-19 restrictions to political pressure on our athletes.

At that time, a task was set and a goal was defined: to act more actively and creatively in order to restore the rights of Belarusians and return to them the opportunity to compete under the national flag and anthem.

“Today I am pleased to note that the work in 2025 has yielded tangible results. The ice has broken. Some of our winter sports athletes not only returned to the world stage but also secured quotas, representing the country at the Olympic Games in Italy,” Viktor Lukashenko said. “This is a signal that we must further consolidate our efforts on this front. Thus, the National Olympic Committee will continue implementing its program to support the international activities of the national federations in Olympic sports. We will assume the costs of annual contributions to international institutions and provide funding for our delegates to attend international and European congresses.”

The NOC of Belarus continues to strengthen the sports alliance with Russia.

“Integration into Russian championships and cups is a starting point but not the limit. We remember the words of the head of state: ‘Secure wins over Russians and you’ll have nothing to prove.' But now the bar is higher. Our athletes are gaining more and more access to international competitions, and our task is to win at the international level, proving the strength of the Belarusian school of sport,” Viktor Lukashenko emphasized.

He emphasized that the Olympic committee, during the reporting period, ensured the full participation of our delegations in key international competitions.

“A landmark event was the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje. Our athletes under 18 not only competed in national uniforms with NOC insignia but also demonstrated a high level of skill, winning 13 medals, 5 of which were gold. This confirms the continuity of generations and the strength of our sports reserve.”

The NOC head noted that, unfortunately, not all of our leading athletes were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, and Belarusian athletes performed to the top of their abilities.

“Seven Belarusian athletes in five sports qualified for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Italy. In the face of fierce competition and psychological pressure, even at the stage of qualifying tournaments, the athletes pulled themselves together, demonstrated character and strength of will, and did everything in their power. Unfortunately, as you know, not all of our leading athletes were allowed to compete.”

At the Olympic Games, Belarusian athletes made it to the world's top 8: Marina Zueva as 6th in the 5,000m in speed skating, and Hanna Huskova finished 8th in aerials.

He said that as one of the leading sports nations, Belarus consistently demonstrates high results in certain sports, while others have not been pleasing with their “achievements” for quite a long period, which should not be regarded as the norm.

“Undoubtedly, the Olympic experience is invaluable, especially taking into account the changed conditions and factors that are not always within our control. Today, it allows us to draw conclusions and understand what needs to be changed, in which direction to work and move forward. However, participation merely for the sake of participation has long ceased to be our principle of work and is an unacceptable approach in sports."

Viktor Lukashenko also stressed that everyone aspires to achieve more, and that together we must do everything within our power to ensure Belarus remains among the world’s sporting elite.

“The potential for growth in Belarusian sport remains considerable. There are heights to aim for, room to improve, and our people, our athletes – talented, hardworking, with a strong inner backbone and reserve – are, I am certain, capable of achieving more. Together, we must do everything within our power to keep our country among the world’s sporting elite.”

The NOC of Belarus maintains constant contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the European Olympic Committees (EOC), and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), participating in all key technical sessions and webinars.

“I would like to particularly emphasize the qualitative change in the nature of our interaction with the International Olympic Committee. Ahead of the Games in Italy, communication has not only intensified but has acquired a distinctly positive momentum. The main result of our efforts has been a direct dialogue with IOC President Kirsty Coventry. For the first time in a long while, we were able to hold a personal discussion via videoconference.”

During this exchange, the IOC leadership acknowledged the constructive and stable nature of our interaction. We reached a fundamental agreement: to continue regular contacts at the highest level and to jointly develop solutions on all the most pressing issues on the Olympic agenda. This confirms that Belarus’ voice is heard and that our arguments are being taken into account.

The NOC president noted that during the reporting period, the organization transitioned to systematic regulation of this support.

“The Executive Board approved new Regulations on the Financing Procedure for 2026. Sponsorship support is clearly focused on priority objectives: from preparing athletes and developing infrastructure to strengthening the positions of our federations on the international stage. This financing model is aimed at optimizing the distribution of funds and increasing the efficiency of state support utilization, which will allow federations to flexibly adapt to the international calendar and promptly reallocate funds depending on current needs.”

During the celebration of the NOC’s 35th anniversary, Viktor Lukashenko spoke about the 35 Heroes of the Future project – a program of targeted financial assistance for young athletes. This initiative, inspired by the principles of IOC Olympic Solidarity, is aimed at supporting 35 athletes between the ages of 15 and 21. The NOC head noted that the project’s implementation mechanism will soon be shared with the Olympic sports federations.

“One of our strategic goals is to invest in future champions who will represent the country at the upcoming Summer and Winter Olympic Games. At the same time, we consistently support our veterans – those who built the glory of Belarusian sports, ensuring the continuity of traditions. Your experience is invaluable, it is the foundation without which there is no future or sustainable development. People always remain at the heart of everything we do. We have also continued our practice of targeted assistance, covering expenses for medical services, medications, pharmaceutical products, and other medical supplies,” Viktor Lukashenko said.

Overall, using funds received from sponsoring organizations, the NOC of Belarus provided gratuitous (sponsorship) assistance to federations and sports organizations amounting to over 6 million Belarusian rubles in 2025.

In 2025, the Vytoki sports and cultural festival was successfully held in Postavy, Vitebsk Oblast. Olympic Day in Minsk proved to be a truly large-scale event. Staged as part of the City Day festivities, the celebration drew approximately 20,000 participants, becoming one of the most massive and vibrant venues in the country.

“The Olympic Committee is not only about mass events,” Viktor Lukashenko noted. “It serves as a driver for the professional development of the sports industry. November 2025 saw a landmark occasion – the first-ever professional marketing award PRO Sport in the country’s history. This award has become a unique platform for celebrating outstanding accomplishments in sports marketing and media communications. Federations, clubs, brands, and media outlets competed in 12 main and 5 special categories.”

Traditionally, ahead of the New Year, the NOC of Belarus organized the Olympic Christmas Tree, and the Olympic family joined the Our Children campaign. The culmination of the celebrations was the NOC of Belarus Award. The presentation of awards to the best athletes of the year took place for the second time, confidently becoming one of the finest traditions in our sports community.

In conclusion, Viktor Lukashenko noted that despite the challenges posed by the complex international situation, the carried out work can be considered effective.

“We enter the new Olympic cycle with a clear plan of action and cautious optimism.”

During the General Assembly of the National Olympic Committee, the participants of the founding conference of the NOC of the BSSR in 1991 – those who were at the origins of the Olympic movement in Belarus – were honored.

“Here among the sports community, we express our gratitude to them today for their accomplishments and personal role in developing our national sports. It is thanks to your determination 35 years ago that today we have a truly strong foundation upon which modern Belarusian sport stands,” the NOC head Viktor Lukashenko noted.

The host of the ceremonial event was a direct witness to those landmark events – renowned sports journalist Vladimir Novitsky.

Belarus NOC President Viktor Lukashenko presented NOC acknowledgments and commemorative gifts to Nikolai Ananyev, Leonid Babko, Igor Basinsky, Pavel Galkin, Boris Golosun, Aleksandr Grigorov, Viktor Groshev, Vasily Ivanyuk, Vladimir Kaminsky, Oleg Kozovoi, Antonina Koshel, Marina Lobatch, Kamandar Madzhidov, Eduard Malofeyev, Spartak Mironovich, Konstantin Platonov, Aleksandr Romankov, Leonid Taranenko, Leonid Khromenkov, and Dmitry Shichko.

During the General Assembly, the report of the audit commission was approved. Secretary General Ksenia Sankovich announced changes to the composition of the NOC of Belarus, and 10 new candidates were accepted as members of the Olympic Committee.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photos by the NOC of Belarus