Viktor Lukashenko: We will fully reinstate our athletes’ rights

President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus made this statement at the opening of the Fifth National Athletes’ Forum in Minsk. He welcomed the participants and noted that the event has become a tradition, now taking place at an international level for the fifth time.

“The forum is in demand. It has become a major gathering venue for athletes, coaches, and sports officials – for everyone who sees sport not merely as a job, but as a way of life. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to the Olympic Glory Hall of Belarus’ NOC. And a special welcome to all our friends from Russia who made the trip. Thank you for taking the time to come.”

The NOC head emphasized that previously, we only spoke about the situation in global sport in a negative way. Lately, however, the situation has begun to change.

 
“Thanks to the systematic work of the NOC of Belarus and the Russian Olympic Committee on the international front, everything is changing. We are doing this work with the IOC, ANOC, EOC, international sports federations, and with friends – and we have many friends within international sports organizations. The situation has changed for the better. We see this. Yesterday, good news came from the world of swimming, where adult athletes have already been allowed to compete in international events with our national anthem, flag, and coat of arms. I am confident that our goals and objectives of fully reinstating the rights of our athletes – so that both adult and young athletes can compete without any restrictions, boycotts, sanctions, and with their national symbols – will be successfully achieved.”

Viktor Lukashenko also thanked Russian colleagues, particularly the Russian International Olympic University, which allows Belarus to train and retrain specialists across various programs, strengthening the talent pool for the country’s sports industry and Olympic movement.

“Best of luck, good work, new projects, and new achievements,” the NOC president concluded his speech.

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