Aliaksandr Bahdanovich. File photo
MOSCOW, 14 September (BelTA) – It is important to continue the fight for the right of athletes to compete under their national flags, Olympic champion in canoeing, chairman of the Athletes’ Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Aliaksandr Bahdanovich said at a joint meeting of the athletes’ commissions of the National Olympic committee of Belarus and the Russian Olympic Committee in Moscow, BelTA has learned.
“More than 20 international federations have already decided to allow Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete. We are definitely not satisfied with the status of our athletes at these tournaments. We need to continue to fight for the right to compete under our national symbols. This is very important for athletes. As a person who, after winning the Olympics, I was overwhelmed to see many people with flags welcoming us at the airport in Minsk,” the famous athlete said.
The event in Moscow has brought together over 250 specialists. Belarus is represented at the event by Ksenia Sankovich, Acting Secretary General of the NOC of Belarus, Aliaksandr Bahdanovich, Chairman of the Athletes’ Commission, Liudmila Kalinchik, a member of the Commission, as well as invited athletes Karyna Dziominskaya (archery), Ruslan Skamaroshka (swimming), Pavel Dzik (aerials) and others. Russia is represented by Olympic participants Anastasia Maximova, Evgeny Rylov, Artur Dalaloyan, Nikita Nagorny, Aliya Mustafina, Sofia Pozdnyakova, Alexander Tretyakov and others.
In addition to the plenary session, the event will comprise panel discussions to consider issues of interest to both current athletes and those who have completed or are completing their sports careers. Each discussion group is expected to compile documents including proposals and wishes of the participants.
