Gomel Oblast sports facilities rated as highly ready to host 2nd CIS Games

The level of readiness of the sports facilities in Gomel and Zhlobin to host the 2nd CIS Games is very high, Belarusian Sport and Tourism minister Sergei Kovalchuk said as he visited the Ice Palace in Gomel, BelTA has learned.

Sergei Kovalchuk said that Zhlobin just hosted a sambo test event. “It showed the highest degree of readiness of the sports venue for the coming games. Now we are assessing Gomel's readiness as the city is hosting a judo test event. The competitions are very interesting. The facility is also highly ready to host the 2nd CIS Games,” he said.

Gomel Oblast has also developed a cultural and tourism program to feature tours around the iconic places of the south-east of the region, and also accommodation and catering facilities. “All the facilities have been inspected. Everything is highly ready to host the games. I think that not every country can boast this level of preparedness to host such events. We have been to Brest, Grodno, Mogilev, Vitebsk and Minsk Oblast. Gomel is our last stop before returning to Minsk tomorrow. Today all the facilities, both sports and cultural, are in excellent condition. We are ready to show our country in all its glory,” Sergei Kovalchuk said.

On 4-8 August 4 HC Gomel arenas are set to host judo competitions among boys and girls born in 2006-2008 as part of the 2nd CIS Games. The competition will take place on arena A, the warm-up on arena B. Athletes will get to the tatami through a branded arch. Anti-doping control areas are located near the competition area. Medical services will be provided by the staff of Gomel Oblast Dispensary of Sports Medicine and healthcare institutions of Gomel.

About 460 athletes from ten countries are scheduled to take part in the judo event. An estimated 204 athletes from eight countries have confirmed their participation so far. These are athletes from Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. According to the rules, the maximum number of athletes on a team is 41 people: 32 athletes, four coaches, four doctors (including a massage therapist) and a judge of the international category. The competition requires 52 referees: 44 referees from Belarus and eight from the teams. 45 volunteers will be ready to provide necessary support to participants and guests of the Games here.

Zhlobin also demonstrates the highest readiness to host the CIS athletes. The city on the Dnieper will host a sambo competition on 11-14 August. According to Gomel Oblast Vice Governor Dmitry Aleinikov, the athletes (born in 2005) will compete at the Palace of Game Sports of the Zhlobin Olympic Reserve Center, where sambo competitions among men and women born in 2005 and older will be held. Two sports halls will be involved: for the competitions and the warm-up. A doping control room has been designated. Employees of Gomel Oblast Dispensary of Sports Medicine and Zhlobin Central District Hospital are responsible for medical care.

According to preliminary information, about 240 athletes from ten countries are planned to take part in the sambo event. 132 participants have confirmed their participation so far. They include 108 athletes, 24 coaches, referees, representatives and massage therapists. These are representatives of Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. The maximum number of athletes on a team is 14 persons: seven men, seven women, four coaches, a doctor, a massage therapist, a international category referee and a representative. Refereeing will be provided according to current international rules and regulations of the Olympic system. There will be 30 referees: 21 from Belarus and nine from the teams. 45 volunteers will work at these facilities during the games.

BelTA – News from Belarus