NOC President congratulates athletes and sports fans on upcoming New Year
In 2022, Belarusian sports have once again proved their viability and competitiveness at competitions of various levels – as noted by the President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus, Viktor Lukashenko, in his New Year's address to athletes, coaches, veterans of the Olympic movement, employees of the sports industry and fans, NOC reports
According to Viktor Lukashenko, the National Olympic Committee set certain goals on welcoming the year of 2022. “Nobody could then imagine what challenges you, dear athletes, would primarily have to face. At the same time, the outgoing year has given us a lot of positive emotions. Neither the bans of international federations nor the contradictions in the world Olympic movement prevented our Belarusian sportsmen from successfully performing," the congratulatory message reads.
The NOC President reminded that the serious work of a large team of Belarusian specialists had made it possible to win two medals at the Beijing Games, “Belarusian sports have once again proved their viability and competitiveness at competitions of various levels. We have passed this year together with dignity, as befits a united team that honours the traditions of Belarusian sports.”
“2022 has become a turning point and a historic year in the context of the world Olympic movement: an increasing number of major international competitions were marked by events incompatible with sports, with its spirit and character. We have repeatedly witnessed dubious, biased decisions and outright provocations, we have seen how the ideas of Pierre de Coubertin were methodically distorted, and how the once sacred principles of the Olympic movement were eroded. There is no doubt that all these difficulties have given us an additional and very powerful boost of energy, will help us achieve the highest results and impressive records, win in an honest and uncompromising struggle – where the fundamental values and ideals of Olympism will prevail, free from political conjuncture and any kind of discrimination," Viktor Lukashenko added.
The NOC President expressed confidence that absolutely all Belarusian athletes are interested in the successful, sustainable development of the Olympic movement, in preserving its humanistic potential. “Further promotion of the great, world-unifying sports values is one of the key tasks of our large Olympic family. It should be settled together, relying on time-tested norms and rules, respecting and hearing each other, building a constructive and friendly dialogue. The Olympic movement is trying to remain a powerful unifying force, a real resource for the development of our countries,” he noted. “We are ready to co-operate in the sports field with all our neighbours and foreign teams, share experience, host everyone at modern sports complexes for training and joint competitions, while strengthening friendship, which is most relevant now. Therefore, I would like to wish that the difficulties of the outgoing year are forgotten as soon as possible, and all that we have gained, all the best that has been revealed in each person, surely remain with us forever. It is very important today to believe in yourself, not to retreat before the difficult stages of life, to protect our cohesion: this is the basis of our common success in the future.”
“I am convinced that together we will overcome everything, establish and restore justice, and continue to solve the tasks of the Belarusian Olympic movement in the coming year with renewed energy. Let's dream about the brightest points right now: peace and well-being, happiness and joy for everyone who is close to us, who is dear to us. I want to thank each of you for the contribution you are making to our common cause. After all, when we feel a reliable support of those who are near us, we are becoming one big family," the congratulatory message reads.
Viktor Lukashenko wished good health, faith, hope and love, as well as the implementation of all plans and victories in the coming year of 2023.
