Medals of the Future: Children of Asia Games medalists honored at Belarus’ NOC

On 25 September, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus played host to an awards ceremony for the winners and medalists of the 8th Children of Asia Summer International Sports Games.

The Belarusian team won 78 (27 gold, 21 silver and 30 bronze) medals in 12 sports at the Children of Asia Games that took place in Yakutia, the capital of the Republic of Sakha, the Russian Federation in June-July 2024.

The young athletes were honored by President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko and Belarusian Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk in the Olympic Hall of Fame.

Along with the athletes, honored were also their coaches who worked with the children from a very young age.

“Your outstanding performance and medals are a great pride for the country. Most importantly, you are proud of yourselves and your achievements. In Yakutsk you donned outfits featuring the Belarusian flag and emblem. The Belarusian anthem was played in honor of your victories. You delivered great performance at this big sporting event. Without your coaches and parents, it would have been impossible to achieve such great results. In that permafrost zone you felt the warmth of Belarusian hearts, and their tremendous support. For many of you those were your first international competitions. You have already decided for yourselves that the sport of highest achievements is the path you will follow and devote your life to. I am sure we will see you on the Olympic and world podiums, as well as among the winners and medalists of World Championships and Cups, various major sport forums. We will keep these great moments from Yakutsk in our memory for a long time,” Viktor Lukashenko said.

The NOC president wished all the champions, medalists and coaches every success, good luck, and unbending will.

“The successful performance in Yakutsk has proved that our team has a great potential. After all, this is the period that lays the foundation of the entire sport. Thanks to such athletes and coaches, who are fully committed to their work, our sport has a great and bright future,” Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said.

“All of us tried hard to show our best in Yakutsk. We were highly proud to represent our country at these competitions. The Games gave many of us invaluable experience. We had an opportunity to communicate with our peers and exchange experience. We are very pleased to receive congratulations from the NOC of Belarus. We will do everything possible to perform even better at the next big competitions,” four-time champion in athletics Hanna Arlouskaya said.

“It is nice to be invited to the NOC of Belarus. Many of the athletes are here for the first time. We hope we will return here many more times. It is great that among the invitees are the coaches that work with young athletes. Prize money is really good. We will spend it on improving our skills and preparations for the next competitions,” swimmer Roman Galmak said.

Aleksei Kovalev, head coach of the volleyball team, commented on the team’s performance in Yakutsk.
     

“We are happy with both the result (first place) and the athletes. They delivered a great performance at the international level. Many of them have joined the club system and continue training as part of the sport school system. They are gearing up for new competitions. This age, I mean athletes born in 2008, has had few international competitions, and the victory in Yakutsk will contribute to the athletes’ future career. Many of them will join the national team and leading clubs in the future. All of our athletes are our ‘golden stars’. The competitions in Yakutsk were of great importance for both the athletes and coaches. It is nice that their first coaches have not been forgotten: they do a lot to make our youth achieve results at the international level,” head coach Aleksei Kovalev said.

Track and field athletes (13-7-8) and swimmers (6-8-6) brought the biggest number of medals to Belarus. Belarusian athletes also graced the podium in taekwondo, wrestling, judo, boxing, rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball, 3x3 basketball, table tennis, archery and shooting.

Belarus placed third in the Children of Asia overall medal standings, behind Uzbekistan and the Siberian Federal District. Athletes of 17 countries graced the podium during the Games.

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