Minsk hosts 3rd National Athletes Forum

On 26 April, the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus hosted the 3rd National Athletes Forum that brought together many leading athletes and experts from Belarus and Russia.

The participants discussed many topical issues regarding the conduct of competitions, the organization of training camps, and the search for new opportunities for integration in the current situation in world sports.

President of the Belarusian NOC Viktor Lukashenko addressed the participants of the Forum with a welcoming speech. He thanked the representatives of Russian International Olympic University and all the experts for accepting the invitation to speak at the Forum.

The head of the NOC of Belarus noted that sport is called the universal language of communication, and this year Belarus and Russia were able to create good conditions for training and competitions.

"Together with the ROC, we looked for various forms of support, which you appreciated," Viktor Lukashenko said addressing the athletes. “As for the Olympics in Paris, in the light of the latest IOC statements we are hopeful of a positive solution to the issue. There is some thawing. But it is still a long way until the ‘summer’. Dear athletes, the Games in Paris remain our main goal," Viktor Lukashenko said. “Despite the things that we are going through now, sport is nevertheless the number one choice. It is fashionable. Our state will continue to work to preserve the conditions that we have created for physical culture and sport. I am sure that you, dear athletes, will concur with me. You were not left alone in difficult times. No one turned away from you. Rather the contrary. All this time we have been looking for various forms to support you. We are grateful to you for not losing your hearts, for continuing to do what you love towards your dream which is the Olympic Games. I am sure that our cooperation with the ROC will continue in the spirit of mutual respect toward building even closer trusting relations. Despite the international situation, together we will continue to do everything possible to keep sport open.”

Head of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov greeted the participants of the Athletes Forum.

“Very close, productive communication between athletes, sports specialists and managers of various levels has recently become the absolute norm for us. Belarus and Russia have jointly held more than 100 events recently. Remember, at first both our and Belarusian fans wondered why Belarus was taking part in Russian championships. Today, no one asks this question in the sports environment. Our joint participation in high-level national competitions has become an absolute norm. We must thank some international public sports organizations for bringing our peoples even closer. Of course, the Olympic movement is, first of all, about friendship, about cooperation, respect, solidarity, and about making this imperfect world a better place through sport, something that Pierre de Coubertin dreamed of. Everyone who is present in this hall is making the world a better place through sport. I am sure that once you retire from sport, you will be able to realize the potential you accumulated over the years of competitive career and make a significant contribution to the development of not only physical culture and sports in our countries, but also, possibly, in other areas. I, as a person who had a long sports career also had doubts as to what I do next when I retire. But believe me, there is life after sport. You need to love it, you need to believe in it, make every effort, and use all your knowledge in order for it to be bright and eventful. I sincerely wish that you and that those generations who follow you will learn from you, improve sports and the Olympic movement of our countries. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the NOC of Belarus for the invitation to speak at the Forum. This is a great honor for us, for our athletes and Olympians who were involved in the Olympic Games in various capacities. We are always glad to see you in Russia, in our big friendly Belarusian-Russian family," Stanislav Pozdnyakov said.

“Russian international Olympic University has been participating in the National Athletes Forum for the third year in a row. We are proud that the NOC of Belarus invites us as a partner in the educational program. The format of the forum is optimal. It gives all participants an opportunity not only to learn something new about sport, but also to think about their future: what to do when they retire from sport. Today athletes have a lot of educational opportunities, and this time can be used to get a ‘parallel career’. This means that while still being an active athlete, it is possible to learn new competencies in order to stay in sports in the new capacity of a sports manager. Russian International Olympic University offers athletes such training programs,” said Professor Lev Belousov, RIOU Rector, Academician of the Russian Academy of Education.



During the opening ceremony of the forum, Viktor Lukashenko awarded a certificate of commendation of the NOC of Belarus to four-time world biathlon champion and member of the Executive Committee of the NOC of Belarus Elena Zubrilova for her services to the Olympic movement, mass and elite sport. 2014 Olympic champion in aerials Alla Tsuper, currently the coach-administrator of the national team, received the NOC medal “For Outstanding Merits” in recognition of her sporting achievements and on the occasion of her retirement from sport.

The forum was moderated by famous Belarusian commentator Andrei Kozlov.

The expert discussion “Sports career under external pressure and new opportunities for development” held at the Olympic Hall of Fame focused on the main issues of current importance for the sport industry.

According to world champion and three-time medalist in canoe sprint Maryna Litvinchuk, Belarusian athletes will be showing their best at the Olympics in Paris under any circumstances.


“At all major international competitions, where I won, I always sang the Belarusian national anthem standing on the podium when our flag was raised. That is why I really want all our national symbols to be present at the Olympics in Paris. Yet, I have not got a chance to sing the national anthem at the Games. If we are allowed to participate, we will show our best in Paris. If other scenario plays out, we will sing the anthem anyway, at home or in the airport. Everyone will know where we are from and what country we represent,” Maryna Litvinchuk said.

“The level of competition in synchronized swimming decreased significantly without Russians. Everything is different without leaders. Those who grace the podium today must understand that all the awards are less valuable without the strongest ones. World sport suffers without the strongest athletes. It is impossible to deny this,” three-time Olympic champion in synchronized swimming Alla Shishkina said.

“Ahead of the forum we discussed our plans with our colleagues from Russia. We welcome the IOC’s recommendations to return the Belarusians and Russians to major competitions. However, not all the international federations have made their final decisions. We are waiting for them, and then we will be making our plans,” said the well-known biathlete, deputy chairwoman of the Belarus’ NOC Athletes Commission Liudmila Kalinchik.

“We believe that the conditions for the return of our athletes to the international arena, imposed by the IOC in late March 2023, are discriminatory. The motto of the Olympic movement has recently been made “Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together”. For some reason the thesis ‘together’ ceased to have any relevance in respect to us. Athletes, who have not violated anything, cannot take part in qualifying competitions, or in any other international competitions this season. This is discrimination and double standards,” Deputy Chairwoman of the ROC Athletes Commission Lada Zadonskaya.

Andrei Lyakin, a leading expert of the Competence Center of the Moscow city Government University of Management, shared his opinion on how to go the way from an athlete to a manager.

President of the women's handball team Baltiyskaya Zarya (St. Petersburg), expert in working with sponsors and brand creation, promotion, and management Irina Kuderova spoke on “Creation and promotion a personal brand of an athlete or how to stay number one outside of sport”.

The forum brought together more than 200 people: champions and medalists of the Games, famous athletes from Belarus and Russia.

Leading Russian athletes together with their Belarusian counterparts also held clinics at the sport center of the Belarusian State University of Physical Education and the Belarusian Olympic Athletics Center.

The 3rd National Athletes Forum was organized by the National Olympic Committee of Belarus and the Russian International Olympic University. The forum was attended by more than 200 Belarusian athletes. Leading Russian experts shared their expertise.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus

Photos by Belarus Segodnya