«Olympic Christmas tree»: famous athletes, a New Year's costumes parade and a quest

The traditional New Year «Olympic Christmas Tree» festival took place on December 24 at AK «Pobediteley», 14.

Children and grandchildren of famous Belarusian athletes took part in the New Year holiday organized by the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Together with their parents and grandparents, the children fell into the festive atmosphere, showed their New Year's costumes, and solved all the riddles of the New Year's quest. Before the New Year tree, the children were also entertained by the mascot-dolls from Belarusian sport clubs, including volleyball Lynx, basketball's «Tsmok», handball's «Sky», football's «Softik» and «Krumka», as well as the mascot of the Belarusian Olympic team Buslik TEAM BY, a well-known and loved by children Agrik from Belagroprombank. The most impressive quests were aero bears: they were in demand among those who likes taking selfies.

Viktor Lukashenko, First Vice President of the NOC of Belarus, welcomed the participants of the Christmas tree festival and congratulated everyone on the upcoming New Year holiday, wished them good health, well-being and success in future.

«Over the years, our wonderful event unites dignitaries of Belarus - our distinguished champions and Olympic medallists, their children and grandchildren. I am sure that you, girls and boys, will follow in your parents, grandparent’s footsteps, and everyone will succeed in life. Since all the conditions for your success have been created in our country. Learn, develop, be obedient toward your eldest, and fortune will always be on your side.

Let this bright holiday inspire our athletes towards new victories, that we expect from them at the Summer Olympic Games in 2020 in Tokyo», – Viktor Lukashenko said in the addressing.

During the event, the guests of the festival participated in the New Year's quest show called «At the fairy tale's country». The children and their parents fell into the world of adventure with an interactive program: with games, quests, dances, and a New Year's round dances. The audience took a New Year's trip to the «Smileland» country and got to know some funny characters: Buska, Grustinka and Znayka.

It should be noted, that the NOC of Belarus annually participates in the charity event called «Our Children» and they invited pupils from the Rudensky auxiliary residential school and the Radoshkovichi boarding school for orphans and children left without parental care for a holiday. The special gifts were prepared for the pupils from these institutions.

The olympic champion in the weightlifting champion Andrei Aramnau appreciates such holidays for the opportunity to chat with colleagues. Andrei Aramnau noted:"We don't see each other so often, but at the Christmas tree you can exchange views on how the outgoing year has developed, the children get to know each other, and communicate so much. 2019 was one of the most successful for me: I successfully performed at the European and world Championships, set many records, and most importantly, I had a son! I hope that next year, the Olympic year, will be no less intense, and athletes will be able to please everyone with high results»

The famous Belarusian gymnast, and now the coach of the national team, Liubov Cherkashina came to the holiday with her daughter Vera and her husband Viktor. Liubov Cherkashina said: “I always like to start celebrating the approach of the New Year together with the NOC, on our Olympic Christmas tree. Today, many famous athletes brought their children to the festival. We all expect some magic from this New Year’s Eve, and most of all the children are waiting. I want to wish happiness to the children and their parents in 2020”.

The son of Margarita Makhneva, the bronze medalist of the 2016 rowing, actively behaved during the new year's performance. Margarita Makhneva noted: «My son and I really like it. For the first time I found myself in such a large-scale and colorful representation. We are already training, preparing for the next season. Now we are at such a celebration. Wonderful quest, colorful costumes, everyone really liked it».

The Vice President of the NOC of Belarus Dzmitry Dauhalionak noted that the «Olympic Christmas Tree» holiday is a good opportunity to wish all the athletes a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas and wish them success.

Dzmitry Dauhalionak said: «Every year, the NOC of Belarus, as the organizer of the Christmas tree, tries to come up with something new and spend the holiday even brighter and more spectacular. This atmosphere remains with those who come to our celebration for the whole year. I hope that the mood of the «Olympic Christmas tree» will help our athletes to fulfill their dreams at the main start of next year - the Olympics in Tokyo».

The «Olympic Christmas tree» for Dmitri Dashinski and his family is already a good tradition. He noted: «For many years in a row, as soon as the children have grown up, we come to the Olympic Christmas tree. We already have such a tradition. This is one of the brightest holidays, which is liked by both adults and children. I saw many friends today, congratulated each other on the upcoming. The next year is important for Belarusian athletes, I would like to wish them and their families well-being, and there are many bright victories in sports arenas», – Dmitri Dashinski.

After the holiday, the children received sweet gifts from the NOC of Belarus.

Press Service of the NOC  Belaru

Photo: Denis Kostyuchenko