Beach sports center opens in Minsk

A beach sports center opened at the Olimpiyski Sports and Recreation Complex in Minsk on 20 January. The new facility is situated next to the Freestyle water park, the 50-meter swimming pool, and a set of football fields.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus Viktor Lukashenko, Sports Minister Sergei Kovalchuk, and the top scorer of the 2024 and 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Ihar Brishtsel.

The Belarus’ NOC head congratulated everyone on the commissioning of the new sports center, noting that it possesses all the necessary infrastructure not only for year-round training but also for hosting competitions and international tournaments in beach sports.

“The new center is a unique facility for our country and the near abroad, which was made possible thanks to achievements on the world stage. Belarus is not a maritime country; we don’t have large beaches. But we do have athletes who excel in beach sports, and we are proud of them. Beach soccer and beach volleyball lead the way. Beach volleyball players are not far behind and are already pushing them closely in terms of achievements. I would like this center to become a home for the teams that have needed it so much. I hope that having such a facility will provide another impetus for the progress of young players,” Viktor Lukashenko stressed.

Sports Minister Sergei Kovalchuk thanked the staff of the Olimpiyski Sports Complex, who oversaw the construction of the facility, and the builders for their excellent work.

“The national beach soccer team we have in our country has earned such a center. Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko always says: show results and the conditions will be created. Today, I would like to express special gratitude to the National Olympic Committee, and Viktor Aleksandrovich [Lukashenko], to you personally. I remember the year 2019, when Minsk hosted the 2nd European Games, and you made the decision to build this wonderful facility. I would say it was erected in record time. Anyone who has been inside can only marvel at the beauty and scale of this sports facility. I am confident that this complex will give new impetus to the development of beach sports in Belarus. I am sure that with your support, the results of Belarusian sports, and beach sports in particular, will become even more significant,” Sports Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said.







The National Olympic Committee of Belarus was actively involved in the construction of the center, which was built within 18 months.

The new facility enabled the country’s first-ever beach soccer match to be played in sub-zero, true winter conditions. Competing on the sand were the Belarusian national beach soccer team, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup silver medalists and the current national champion BSC Minsk.

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