Vytoki 2026 festival brings joy and excitement to Svetlogorsk

The Vytoki sports and cultural festival took place in Svetlogorsk in a warm and engaging atmosphere. Over three days, participants explored the history, cultural heritage, and athletic achievements of the region. A large scale Olympic quest and a brand new roller park gave the residents of this city on the Berezina River the fondest memories of this much-anticipated festival.

The third day of the festival traditionally began with the Olympic quest. Children up to age 14 were especially excited. Headphones, a portable speaker, and a power bank were among the valuable prizes worth competing for at more than 30 venues.

Before the quest began, an opening ceremony took place, with well known Belarusian performers giving the start to the athletic challenges.

As is tradition, the festival attracted a host of decorated athletes: Hanna Huskova (Olympic gold and silver medalist in freestyle skiing), Alla Tsuper (Olympic champion), Alexander Hleb (Champions League winner), and many others.

Vytoki serves multiple purposes, Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Natalya Petkevich told reporters during the festival in Svetlogorsk.

“Vytoki has several important functions. The first is to promote a healthy lifestyle among the younger generation. It is crucial to embrace this from a very young age, and everyone must understand the importance of healthy living. The second goal is to strengthen family traditions. It models behavior for children: you come with your family, spend time together, and do so productively. Another key aspect is that Vytoki is held in small towns. The NOC of Belarus gives these communities a true celebration,” Natalya Petkevich noted.

At the Vytoki festival in Svetlogorsk, the aim was to showcase the very best the event has to offer, said Kseniya Sankovich, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, during her conversation with journalists.

“We wanted to hold a real celebration and present the best of Vytoki to delight the residents of Svetlogorsk. Despite the rain, children eagerly come to the Olympic quest venues. There may be fewer than we expected, but that has its advantage: they can try various sports, and the coaches can give them more attention. It is important for the children to interact with the celebrated athletes here. As soon as the athletes arrive at a venue, everyone rushes to take photos. Yesterday, we also held master classes and saw how the children reacted to the athletes’ presence. That is truly heartwarming, and it means a lot to the athletes as well. They shared their emotions and noted that when they visit sports schools, they realize how much their achievements and results matter to the children,” said Kseniya Sankovich.

The Vytoki sports and cultural festival was running in Svetlogorsk from 4 June to 6 June. The program included exploring the region’s cultural traditions, the Olympic quest with valuable prizes, master classes by champions, theater performances, and concerts by Belarusian pop stars.

The celebration in Svetlogorsk concluded with a cover band battle, a large concert featuring Belarusian pop artists, and a fireworks display.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus

Photos by the NOC of Belarus