Belarus — country of sports

The words ‘Belarusians’ and ‘sport’ had almost become synonymous. The country’s parks are always full of sports enthusiasts, while modern swimming pools and ice arenas are being built even in small district centres. Therefore, it is not surprising that Belarusian professional athletes regularly get to world podiums to accept well-deserved awards.

Minsk-Arena
Photo: www.noc.by

To paddle to Brest

The nature of the region encourages to go rowing: there are more than twenty thousand rivers in our ‘Blue-eyed’ country. Kayaks and canoes scurrying back and forth across the water surface are a familiar sight in urban areas. Back in the 20th century, athletes from Brest, Gomel and Minsk traditionally won gold medals for the Soviet team in these sports. The winning tradition did not end there: Belarusian rowers have never returned from the Olympics without awards over the past two decades. There are training bases in all regions, but one of the most beautiful is located in Brest. A modern rowing canal with a multifunctional sports and entertainment complex is indeed impressive in its scope. There are swimming pools, gyms, ski-roller tracks, a hotel, a sauna and a cafe. It is not surprising that not only Belarusian athletes, but also Russians like to train in Brest. By the way, amateur athletes are always welcome here.
A curious detail is that it was at the training camp in Brest in 1997 that Ekaterina Khadatovich, who is also now known by the surname Karsten, met her future husband. In the rowing world, her nickname is Catherine the Great. There is a reason for it: she won two Olympic gold medals and the title of six-time world champion.

To experience horsepower

The elite village of Ratomka is known not only for extremely expensive cottages and star residents but also for its hoofed inhabitants. There is the Republican Centre for Olympic Training of Equestrian Sports and Horse Breeding. Watching noble animals and their brave riders in the moments of dressage, overcoming obstacles and triathlon is a special pleasure.
However, you can always come to Ratomka and take a tour, look into the stables and arenas. You can even saddle dashing horses in the field or sedately ride in a carriage. By the way, Ratomka is the only centre among the CIS countries where centralised training of young men and juniors in equestrian sports is organised. Belarusian kids are incredibly lucky.

To prove that you’re not a coward

The beauty and pride of the Belarusian capital is Minsk-Arena. Architects Valery Kutsko, Vladimir Budaev, Anatoly Shabalin were awarded the State Prize for this project. Two years later, the Russian team beat the Swedes on this ice and took the well-deserved gold at the Ice Hockey World Championships. The matchup was tough and exciting, and the championship was recognised as the most attendant tournament — over 640 thousand fans from eighty countries. Today you can come here to see the home games of Dinamo-Minsk Hockey Club and Tsmoki-Minsk Basketball Club.
However, Minsk-Arena is not only a sports venue. In 2010 and 2018, the Junior Eurovision Song Contest was held at the complex, and even the sports drama Legend No. 17 was filmed there.

To follow in the steps of the legends

Nature has not endowed Belarus with snow-covered mountain slopes, but it’s not an obstacle. Four-time Olympic champion and hero of Belarus Darya Domracheva is the proof of that! Famous Belarusian biathletes, skiers, freestylers regularly bring home a whole bunch of prestigious competitions awards. Raubichi Republican Centre for Olympic Training in Winter Sports is their alma mater. The place with amazing energy and powerful infrastructure had been widely recognised and appreciated by the world biathlon stars who came here for the family sports festival Race of Legends.
Raubichi Сentre is notable in that both professionals and amateurs can equally enjoy the facilities of the complex. In winter, you can go skiing, skating and snow tubing down steep hills until dark. In summer, guests can rent bicycles, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts and much more.

To find out where Alla Pugacheva had sold out concerts

Within ten minutes walk of the railway station, there is the main sports arena of the country — the Dinamo Stadium. When looking at a modern brilliant miracle, it seems downright unbelievable that it was built in the post-war years. Since then, however, its exterior has changed drastically several times.
Few people know that during the Olympics-80, this Minsk stadium hosted seven football matches, including the first quarterfinal. That is why this stadium has every right to bear the proud title of Olympic.
However, the record attendance at Dinamo was scored not for sports matches, but musical events. For example, from August 16th to 20th, 1989, Alla Pugacheva gave eight solo concerts at Dinamo, which gathered four hundred thousand spectators in total.

By Sofia Arsenyeva
Photos by BELTA