President of Belarus can be a boxer, a wrestler, a basketball or volleyball
The European Radio for Belarus has found out which sports was the favourite of the presidential contenders and which sports palaces they are going to build if
they lead the country.
During the reign of Aliaksandr Lukashenka ice hockey was the Belarusian sport No. 1 What sport will Belarusians practice if there is another President?
The leader of the "Tell the Truth!" campaign Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu has told he seriously practiced boxing and wrestling in young aduthood.
Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu: “I
took part in such boxing competitions which were considered those of
perspective young sportsmen. As for wrestling, my coach was Hryhoryeu,
who used to coach Aliaksandr Medved. I also trained with Vasil Shukshin,
who later became the World Champion”.
Nyaklyaeu was serious
about sports until he got injured. Now he likes skiing, plays ping-pong
and billiard, does gymnastics constantly. If he becomes President, he
will support only children and youth sports, letting the professional
sports run free.
Uladzimir Nyaklyaeu: “When
sports can earn money, as everywhere else, it is reasonable to invest
money in it. However, this money should be found by the people which
would make it their business. The same boxing and wrestling - that's
business. Belarus should join international sports through this. State
governing is not the best way to develop sports and physical culture. ”.
Economist Jaraslau Ramanchuk has
a first rank in volley-ball, he played at republican competitions at
school. He also did high jumps, and his school record was kept for a
long time afterwards. He got the first rank in ping-pong at the
university and won all the university competitions during the five years
of studies. Now he doesn't forget to keep fit. If he becomes President,
he would suggest Ice Hockey Palaces should be turned into commercial
objects, with just minimal support of the State. The main help Jaraslau
Ramanchuk is going to render to coaches of sports sections and physical
training teachers at schools.
Jaraslau Ramanchuk: “First
of all, we need to support physical culture and sports, give good money
to coaches of sports sections and physical training teachers at
schools, so they would be interested in development of sports. If they
are paid 300-400 thousand roubles, there will be nothing good about
sports in the country”.
Jaraslau is convinced children and
youth sports should be financed by the State. Big sports should become
commercial and sponsor. The politician supports the idea of liquidation
of the Ministry of Sports and creating the agency for development of
physical culture and sports.
Andrej Sannikau also liked
sports: he played football and hockey in the yard, went to the
basketball section. He even played for Lingusitic University team. Now
his sporting exercises are limited to long walks in the woods and long
swims in the sea. As for Ice Hockey Palaces, he is convinced they are
just waste of money. However, he says he has not thought of what to do
with the palaces which fail to pay off. However, Sannikau is convinced
the State should support sports.
Andrej Sannikau: “At first, state support is necessary, as we need to reconstruct sports into more effective forms. If we participate in competitions not as a state, we need the club system. The example of BATE is very positive. Sports should be supported. Maybe, it is reasonable to get back to the old forms, like in the USSR - childrens' sports schools, sports preparation, but without the shortcomings which used to be then”.
The BPF party contender Ryhor Kastusyou practiced running and participated in running competitions. Thus, he thinks it is necessary to support sports.
Ryhor Kastusyou: “There should be some support, rendered by enterprises, local or state budgets. But this should be mutually beneficial. Enterprises should benefit from supporting a certain team - there should be something like decreasing taxes or something else, so the enterprise would get income. It is possible - we just need to think of it”.
Christian democrat Vital Rymasheuski practiced judo, boxing, weight-lifting and attended several "less serious" sports sections. Now he swims in the pool and keeps fit with the help of 16-32 kilos bars. Rymasheuski is going not only to keep all the Ice Hockey Palaces, but promises to build swimming pools and gyms in every district of every city.
Vital Rymasheuski: “We'll do our best so that common people and children could use these palaces every weekend. Morerover, I think we need to build smaller objects as well. For example, swimming pools or small gymnasiums - we desperately lack them now.”.
According to him, the state should finance sports - from children's sections to Olympic teams. However, at the same time it should become commercialized.
As for Mikalaj Statkevich, he practiced basketball in young adulthood. Now he does morning exercises every day, has a horisontal bar at home and hikes 7 kilometers a day. He suggests, as Rymasheuski, keeping the Ice Hockey Palaces and opening small gyms in every district. As for state subsidies for sports, he thinks they should not be given to everyone.
Mikalaj Statkevich: “There won't be a crowd of fans longing to look how a woman puts the shot or throws a spear. This kind of sports is not commercial. But it gives golden medals and prestige to the country - so it should be invested into. There are kinds of sports which can earn for themselves, like hockey or football. They just need to be prepared for independent life, so we need to give them a certain financial support and set them free, in order to let them earn”.
As for heading sports federations, Statkevich is convinced it should be either professionals or rich sponsors.
