Belarus interested in sending athletes to Children of Asia Games

Belarus’ National Olympic Committee hosted a meeting between President of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko and head of the Children of Asia Games International Committee Vladimir Maksimov on 8 December.

The parties discussed the prospects for further cooperation and participation of Belarusian teams in the Games.

Viktor Lukashenko stressed that Belarus is ready to field its teams for various disciplines of the Children of Asia Games. According to him, the Belarusian delegation can include up to 70 athletes in the following sports: ice hockey, snowboarding, ski jumping, cross-country, figure skating, speed skating and alpine skiing. In the current difficult time for Belarusian and Russian athletes, participation in such Games is an excellent opportunity to build their future

careers.

"We are definitely interested in this project. I am sure that the participation of the Belarusian team in the second edition of the Children of Asia Winter Games in Kemerovo will be also useful for the organizers, as it will expand the geography of participants, increase competition and audience appeal of the event. Such prestigious and large-scale Games will allow young athletes to improve their skills, gain the necessary competitive experience, and also make new riends, see the conditions their peers train," Viktor Lukashenko said.

Head of the Children of Asia Games International Committee Vladimir Maksimov thanked the head of the Belarusian NOC for the invitation and attention to the project, which, by the way, was launched more than 26 years ago. As Vladimir Maksimov noted, the applications from foreign countries are still open. The final rosters will be announced after 31 December.

“This year the Summer Games took place under the patronage of the IOC. I would like to say that we managed to defend the international status of the tournament. Children should not be affected by political crises. The Children of Asia Winter Games are in their nascence, but they are already enjoying great attention from the member states of the Olympic Council of Asia. You can participate in the Games in several ways; we will discuss all the available options. Winter sports are not so common in many Asian countries, and the participation of Belarusians will make showdowns more competitive and spectacular,” Vladimir Maksimov said.

The head of the Children of Asia Games International Committee noted that applications for participation in the Games were submitted by all Russia’s regions that were specified by the concept of the Games: the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Moscow, Kuzbass, the Ural Federal District, the Siberian Federal District, the Republic of Tatarstan, the Far Eastern Federal District, the Republic of Bashkortostan.

“ The Russian Olympic Committee, being one of the founders of the Games, will do its best to create favorable conditions for Belarusian young athletes seeking to take part in this tournament. We are encouraged by the prospects of scaling up the project and turning it into the Children of Eurasia Games. The position of President of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov is to integrate Belarusian athletes into this tournament, this will have an impact on the promotion of the IOC initiatives across the widest range of humanitarian initiatives. The Russian Olympic Committee supports the participation of Belarusian athletes in the Children of Asia Winter Games and is ready to provide assistance,” Deputy Director General and Head of the ROC President’s Office Rodion Plitukhin said at the meeting.