The preparations for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo have started. On November 19, Belarusian leader and president of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Alyaksandr Lukashenka officially appointed his eldest son Viktar first vice-president of the organization.
At that, he immediately pre-empted public criticism:
“If someone thinks that he has got a big position on the back of his father, remember that he has already has a decent job of national security aide,” he said.
During the meeting, Lukashenka awarded some Belarusian athletes: rower Katsyaryna Karsten and swimmer Alyaksandra Herasimenya received NOC badges “For merits in the development of the Olympic movement in the Republic of Belarus”.
But the awarding was the only bright spot of the event. Most of its time Lukashenka spent blasting the Belarusian sports. Even threats came into picture:
“Should you participate [in Tokyo Olympics] at all? If you go there just as tourists and come back with nothing, you would be better off hiding your faces!”
Lukashenka mentioned almost all summer sports, complaining about the athletes’ poor performance. Syarhei Yuzhyk, a sportswriter at the newspaper PressBall, says this is largely due to the tight state control over sports players and attempts to kill two birds with one stone:
“One should not plan two peaks for one season. You cannot dance at two weddings. How can an athlete show the same good result at the world championship when the European Games ended only a month ago?”
Making his speech, Lukashenka focused on the Belarusians’ love of sports and the importance of Olympic triumphs for the country’s image. Belsat TV has asked the residents of Babruysk what athletic feats Belarusians are proud of and what should be improved in the field.
“Hockey is under the presidential control. He is a hockey player, as everyone knows, and many ice palaces are built in Belarus. I believe that Belarusians could do their best in this field.”
“Well, actually, football should be in focus. Although Hancharenka quit, their current coach is also good. And gymnastics. But President said that they were lagging behind.”
“Football! After all, it has gone global. There are many [known] football players from Belarus.”
“Maybe some team sports. Our basketball and volleyball are not bad. As for our football, the things look blue.”
“Now people are glued on their phones, they are unwilling to go in for sports.”
Discussing the winning strategies, the Belarusian leader voiced his regular order, i.e. to take each Olympian under individual control. Viktar Lukashenka might be of help: as a national security advisor, he is in charge of security agencies.
Yan Vyarbitski, belsat.eu
