MINSK, 27 March (BelTA) – The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus honored the winners and medalists of the 1st Winter International Sports Games Children of Primorye, BelTA has learned.
International competitions featuring athletes under 16 years of age from Belarus, Russia, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Uzbekistan took place in Primorye Territory of the Russian Federation on 19-23 February. Belarusian young athletes won 13 (5 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze) medals. At the honoring ceremony in the NOC of Belarus the medalists of the Games, as well as their coaches, were presented with memorable gifts and money certificates.
“I congratulate our team on a successful performance at such a prestigious competition. Facing high competition our athletes demonstrated great results. This came despite the fact that they had to acclimatize following the flight from Belarus to Primorye Territory,” Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said. “The Children of Primorye Games are a very important event for the country and Belarusian sport. I would like to wish the athletes to have this tournament as a springboard in their future sports life, which will definitely feature many more podiums at competitions of various kinds – European and world championships as well as Olympic Games. Let the competition with representatives of such countries as Russia and China contribute to your improvement and development.”
The champion titles of the 1st Children of Primorye Winter Games were claimed by short tracker Artsyom Shedzko (friendship relay), skier Aliaksandra Parfionava (5 km), figure skaters Valeria Yezhova and Vasil Barakhouski, as well as the Belarus U16 national ice hockey team. Sofia Sporish won silver in the short track relay and bronze in the individual event, Elizaveta Kostyuk took third place in figure skating. Siarhei Parfionau won silver and bronze in cross country skiing (5 km and 7.5 km), Lyudmila Torubarova took silver in the 2.5 km, and Yelizaveta Pugacheva clinched bronze in the 5 km. The Belarusian quartet also secured second place in mixed relay.
