Viktor Lukashenko: Cream of the crop of Belarus, Russia gathers for sports forum in Ufa

The 12th international sports forum “Russia is a sports power” kicked off in Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia on 17 October.

On the sidelines of the event, the Athletes' Commission of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Athletes' Commission of the NOC of Belarus held a meeting. It was attended by President of the ROC Stanislav Pozdnyakov, external adviser to the Russian Prime Minister Oleg Matytsin.

The head of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko addressed the participants of the meeting with welcoming remarks:

"Before the opening we talked with colleagues and friends and came to the conclusion that this is a very useful event where we can exchange views and discuss topical issues. Ufa has gathered the sports elites of our two countries: from Olympic champions to business representatives. The forum ‘Russia is a sports power’ is a unique platform to discuss the key topics in physical education, professional and mass sports. This is a unique opportunity in this difficult time for sports to exchange the opinion and share our impressions we have gained over the past year since the last forum," Viktor Lukashenko stressed.

The development of world sports is impossible without athletes from Belarus and Russia, external adviser to the Russian prime minister Oleg Matytsin said as he opened the expanded-format meeting of the ROC Athletes' Commission with the participation of the Belarusian NOC Athletes' Commission in Ufa within the framework of the forum "Russia is a sports power".

"The NOC of Belarus and the Russian Olympic Committee, the Ministries of Sport of the two countries set an example of how to work together and implement the most ambitious projects. The Athletes' Commissions of the two countries have been working as a single team for a long time, and have proven that they can overcome all barriers. We have a rich history and glorious traditions in sports. Foreign sport functionaries must understand that without athletes from Belarus and Russia, the development of world sports is impossible. Many of our joint projects remain unsurpassed. We need to move forward still. It is well known how much attention the leaders of Belarus and Russia pay to sports. New sports facilities are regularly opened in our countries, and support is provided to athletes. You, the champions, are an example of patriotism and love for your country. We stand together, shoulder to shoulder! The International Olympic Committee is gearing up for elections and, I hope, we will be treated with the respect we deserve," Oleg Matytsin noted.



"Together we went through a difficult period, which required resilience and courage. But the main thing is that we have always been a single team - the Olympic team. I thank all the athletes who took part in the projects. During the sessions of the commission, you have an excellent opportunity to talk with colleagues, sports executives and business representatives. I wish you to have a useful and interesting meeting," the head of the ROC Stanislav Pozdnyakov said in his welcoming speech.

“It is very important for us to work with Russian athletes,” Chairman of the Belarusian NOC Athletes' Commission , Olympic champion in canoeing Aliaksandr Bahdanovich said during the expanded-format meeting of the ROC Athletes' Commission with the participation of the Belarusian NOC Athletes' Commission within the framework of the forum "Russia is a sports power" in Ufa.

"We long needed to have a platform where athletes of the two countries could exchange views and recommend ways of development. I have repeatedly cited examples when we were put in very unfair conditions, disqualified, when we won court battles but were no longer able to get back to where we were. The work of the two commissions is very important for us, important for our athletes. They feel this support and train even harder. I am sure that only together we will overcome all difficulties," Aliaksandr Bahdanovich said.



Attending the event was the two-time champion of Tokyo and Paris in trampoline gymnastics Ivan Litvinovich. One of the most pressing issues was the neutral status of athletes at the past Games.

"The situation is not easy, but in your heart you understand: the whole country is with you, our leadership, which is very supportive. We understood that not every athlete gets such a chance, so we did out best to meet the expectations of the fans. In Minsk, we were welcomed like heroes," Ivan Litvinovich said.

The international sports forum “Russia is a sports power” is running in Ufa from 17 to 19 October. The forum has been held since 2009. Previously it has been hosted by Moscow, Kazan, Saransk, Yakutsk, Cheboksary, Dobrograd, Ulyanovsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kemerovo and Perm.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus