Events

MINSK, 15 August (BelTA) – Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko promises athletes big money only for high results. The Belarusian head of state made this statement at a government meeting to discuss problems of BFSO Dinamo and the ways of addressing them, BelTA has learnt.

“There will be money, big money, but only for the result. No result, no money,” the President noted.

The Belarusian leader stressed that today’s meeting would focus on the issues related to sports development in the country.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, a lot is being done to develop sports in the country, especially in what concerns the infrastructure. “Necessary efforts have been made to enable residents of every region to take up any kind of sport today,” the head of state said. Alexander Lukashenko stressed that the state injects huge funds into the sport industry, and it has every right to expect effective performance and high achievements from the area.

“Today we will see what has been achieved so far. As far as I know three world championships have been held recently: fencing, swimming and athletics which is currently underway,” the President said. He stressed he would like to hear what results the Belarusian athletes have achieved in these competitions.

“Poor performance by our leading clubs, athletes at the international competitions shows that there are still too many problems in the sector,” the head of state noted.

In his words, the first steps to address them have already been made, including in BFSO Dinamo. “We have replaced its top executives. We put in place a troika consisting of the Sports and Tourism Minister, the President’s Aide in Physical Education, Sports and Tourism and the First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee. They are in charge of the situation in sports and answerable to the President,” Alexander Lukashenko said. “It is time they provided their first reports,” he added.

The meeting mainly focuses on the improvement of the activity of BFSO Dinamo. “The place and the role of the association in the national system of physical education and sports have not been determined yet. The mechanism of cooperation between the association and other sports organizations is still underdeveloped. The current operational framework of the association is unable to address the present issues. There are no permanent off-budget financing resources,” he said.

BFSO Dinamo has a special role in the country's sports architecture, said Alexander Lukashenko. According to the head of state, BFSO Dinamo should be engaged in the development of elite sport, training of the sports talent pool and also the activities of the security and law enforcement bodies of our country. The meeting considered which specific steps are being taken to accomplish these tasks, what prevents the effective work.

Alexander Lukashenko stressed: "Some time has passed since the major decisions were taken to regulate financial issues in sport industry. The number of those unhappy with the decision has increased. What are they unhappy about? They are not happy that the state does not give money. They want to get paid $10,000 per month, not $2,000,” the President noted.

In this regard, the President said: "We will pay money to the athletes to prepare for international meets and championships. But an athlete wil get the principal income only for the solid performance. Not for the 21st and 41st places at the international championships but for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.”

“Many will complain saying that they need to live, work and work hard before the event. But they have salaries to live on and work,” the President said.

Alexander Lukashenko stated that the time of easy money in sport is over: "You show a good result, you get good money. No result, no money.”

The head of state also touched on the topic of sports clubs. He noted that there are quite a few problems. "Where are we on this now? We have developed the club system. Former sportsmen now became officials in clubs. Now they are the club managers with 10 assistants, 100 officials and a small team of 20-30 athletes, 3 coaches. Who gets the main income? Of course, the club officials do. I think ministers would be envious of the wages they get at sports clubs. We need to sort things our here as well,” he said.

According to him, the club is an enterprise that should make money. "You earn money, you spend it. You spend as much as you earn," the President said.

The head of state remarked that "the state should pay subsidies only to athletes, coaches, doctors and a few specialists-servicemen".

The President stressed the importance of the children's sports development in the country, without which there is no elite sport.

The Sports and Tourism Minister, the President’s Aide in Physical Education, Sports and Tourism and the First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee are expected to make reports at the meeting.