Belarus’ NOC celebrates 35th anniversary!

Exactly 35 years ago, on 22 March 1991, a founding conference was held in Minsk, at which the National Olympic Committee of the BSSR was established. Following the country’s independence, it was renamed the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

A significant moment for Belarusian sport was the 101st IOC Session held in Monaco on 21-25 September 1993. At that session, in addition to the re-election of President Juan Antonio Samaranch, the NOC of Belarus became a full member of the global Olympic family. The Republic of Belarus gained the right to send its own national team to the Olympic Games!

Since 1994, Belarusian athletes have competed in nine Winter and eight Summer Olympic Games. Following the 2024 Olympics in Paris, our athletes surpassed the Soviet-era record in terms of total medals won – 109 medals compared to 108 while competing as part of the USSR team.

The first gold medal in the sovereign history of Belarus at the Olympic Games was won by Ekaterina Karsten (Khodotovich) in 1996 in Atlanta, USA in rowing.

The most decorated athlete in the country’s independent history is biathlete Darya Domracheva, who has four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal to her name.

Belarus has hosted numerous major tournaments. Among the most significant are the 2014 Ice Hockey World Championship, the 2015 Biathlon Junior World Championships, stages of the Freestyle Ski and Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cups, and the 2018 Speed Skating World Championships… In 2019, the renowned Raubichi complex hosted the Summer Biathlon World Championships for the first time, and the 2nd European Games in Minsk became a notable event on the world stage.

In 2023, Belarus hosted the 2nd CIS Games, which became one of the most spectacular sporting events.

The first head of the NOC of Belarus was Vladimir Ryzhenkov (1945–1996).

On 15 May 1997, the NOC of Belarus was headed by Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who held this position until 26 February 2021.

On 26 February 2021, elections for the President of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus took place at the Olympic Assembly in Minsk. Viktor Lukashenko was elected as the new head of the sports organization, becoming the third President of the NOC of Belarus.

The Olympic movement in Belarus is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the NOC’s founding with a well-developed infrastructure. There are more than 23,000 sports and physical fitness facilities operating in Belarus.

During the years of sovereignty, modern sports complexes, stadiums, and training centers have been built, equipped with the latest technology and rivaling global counterparts - in some respects even surpassing them. This has enabled our athletes, despite the challenging global situation, to achieve strong results internationally and to win medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.

The NOC of Belarus places great emphasis on the development of sports in the regions. The Vytoki sports and cultural festival is successfully held across the regions of Belarus, and in 2026 it will take place in Svetlogorsk. Over the five years the festival has been running, the organizers have seen immense interest and demand for such an event.

Olympic Day in Minsk is traditionally celebrated widely and on a grand scale. This sports festival brings together around 20,000 participants, making it one of the largest and most vibrant events in the country. The Olympic Lesson is held annually with the support of the Belarusian Olympic Academy.

The National Olympic Committee not only organizes events but also sets the direction for professional growth in the sports sector. In November 2025, the PRO Sport professional marketing award was held for the first time.

This award has become a unique platform for recognizing the best achievements in sports marketing and media communications.

The Olympic Committee does not stand aside during one of the most cherished seasons - the New Year holidays: the Olympic Christmas Tree, the NOC of Belarus Award, and the Our Children initiative are all quite prominent and expansive in scope.