Viktor Lukashenko, Aleksandr Karelin discuss Belarus-Russia cooperation in sport

On 15 June, President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko met with Russian Senator Aleksandr Karelin, three-time Olympic champion, multiple world and European champion in Greco-Roman wrestling.

At the beginning of the meeting, the renowned wrestler thanked the president of the Belarusian NOC for the opportunity to attend the National Athletes Forum in Minsk in April as part of a Russian delegation.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the forms of interaction between Belarus and Russia in sport and the development of the Olympic movement, and condemned the decisions of many international sports federations to suspend athletes of the two countries from important competitions.

The renowned wrestler is in Minsk for the international parliamentary conference “Historical Memory: the Great Victory Gained by Unity”. In his words, today it is crucially important to cherish the memory of the great feat of the Soviet people. Belarus, in his opinion, is an example to follow by many. In this regard, he praised the unique exposition of the Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War History.

At the end of the meeting Viktor Lukashenko and Aleksandr Karelin exchanged memorable gifts.

Aleksandr Karelin is a three-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling under 130kg (1988, 1992, 1996), silver medalist of the Olympic Games (2000),
nine-time world champion (1989-1991, 1993-1995, 1997-1999), and twelve-time European champion.

Aleksandr Karelin is recognized by the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles as the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler of the 20th century.
Aleksandr Karelin is a senator of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs.

Press service of Belarus’ NOC
Photos by Belarus’ NOC