Opinions & Interviews

Pat McQuaid: Belarus will make great host of UCI Track Cycling World Championships

MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) - Belarus will do well as the host of the 2013 UCI World Track Cycling Championship, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Pat McQuaid told reporters the at Minsk National Airport. The UCI head arrived in Minsk for the opening ceremony of the world championship on 20 February, BelTA has learned.

Mr Pat McQuaid stressed that there is no doubt Belarus will be an excellent host as was Australia last year.

“When we received the bid from Belarus, we took efforts to make sure that the application had been accepted and facilitated. We see that it can contribute to the development of cycling in Belarus and in the neighboring countries and stimulate this development. We have always tried to stage the championships in those countries where this will help the development of cycling,” Mr Pat McQuaid said.

Asked about the level of cycling in Belarus, Mr Pat McQuaid noted that Belarus has strong racers who show good results. “I know that President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko is very interested in cycling and supports it,” the UCI head said. Mr Pat McQuaid added that during his visit to Belarus, he plans to meet with Chairman of the Minsk City Council Nikolai Ladutko, who heads the Belarusian Cycling Federation. During these meeting the parties plan to discuss the development of cycling in Belarus.

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