Lukashenko: In this special time we must show ourselves as a nation

MINSK, 26 February (BelTA) – In this special time Belarusians must show themselves as a nation, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at the Olympic meeting of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus on 26 February, BelTA has learned.

“This time is special, like never before. We must show that we are a nation,” the head of state emphasized. “You should thank our people for what they did to make it possible for athletes to fight and compete.”

As an example, the president mentioned Belarusian Paralympic athletes, their strength of spirit and will to win. In his opinion, these people are true heroes because they know how to fight. “Sport is sport, anything can happen. But show that you fought, used every opportunity to win. This is the main thing,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Therefore, we need to go to Tokyo and to show that we are a nation, that we are strong competitors. I want to give advice to coaches and to ask them: be patriots, and you will not be ashamed later. It is not your function to go abroad and stand on your knees begging for money. Those who let the country have now launched a crazy fight: they lack money. It’s a shame.”