Posted:
10.12.2024 14:15:03
Delight and admiration
A large-scale sports and entertainment show — Time of Our Victories — has been held in Minsk. Together with 7,000 spectators, President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko watched the vibrant and colourful performance.
Time of Our Victories sports and entertainment show in Minsk Arena
Natalya Eismont, Press Secretary of the President of the Republic of Belarus,
“Why don’t we bring together the best and most beautiful of sports that we have? We see that we have lots of large-scale events in the country. This is a gift to Belarusians, to our people. After all, we need to be able to relax, not only to work. It was entirely the President’s idea. It was the President’s idea and instruction, so to speak. And the question that was put to all of us was: why don’t our athletes also show our country, our people, our youth, first of all, what they are capable of? We have someone to show, something to show and something to be proud of. Summarising all this, I would like to say that this is the first such project for our youth. It’s a gift from our President. We’ll see how everything will work out. And, as we have already said, we hope and believe that if everything works out, the show will have a continuation.”
“Why don’t we bring together the best and most beautiful of sports that we have? We see that we have lots of large-scale events in the country. This is a gift to Belarusians, to our people. After all, we need to be able to relax, not only to work. It was entirely the President’s idea. It was the President’s idea and instruction, so to speak. And the question that was put to all of us was: why don’t our athletes also show our country, our people, our youth, first of all, what they are capable of? We have someone to show, something to show and something to be proud of. Summarising all this, I would like to say that this is the first such project for our youth. It’s a gift from our President. We’ll see how everything will work out. And, as we have already said, we hope and believe that if everything works out, the show will have a continuation.”
The festive excitement on the approaches to the Minsk Arena was felt long before the start of the bright and colourful performance. The audience was dominated by young, smiling and happy faces — the future of our country. Students from different regions of Belarus, young workers, sports and creative youth gathered in the capital to witness the high-profile gala show Time of Our Victories.
The main idea of the event is fresh and relevant — unity. This was the basis for the concept and the script. The programme was divided into 12 thematic blocks, the theme of which was determined by the same number of words that encourage a person to act: to dream, inspire, love, create, be friends, act, remember, appreciate, be proud, take risks, be together and, of course, to win. About 700 people, including 400 athletes, were involved in the incredible show that captured the imagination with its scale and colourfulness. The grandiose show featured real superstars, widely known and admired across the globe: two-time Olympic champion in trampoline Ivan Litvinovich, his teammate and Paris Olympics silver medallist Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya, Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and world champion in rhythmic gymnastics Alina Harnasko. Physically challenged athletes also prepared their own programme.
This is the first time a show of this scale has been held in our country, but the organisers assure that if everything works out, such sports and cultural festivals will sweep across Belarus and everyone will be able to see them firsthand.
Main idea of the Time of Our Victories event is unity ♦ The programme opened with the Flight of Time prologue performed by gymnasts from the Republican Centre of Olympic Training. The hand of the clock on the Time of Our Victories face was launched.
♦ The first chapter of the show was Time to Dream. Anna Kondrashina, a member of the Belarusian rhythmic gymnastics team, performed solo in the Beautiful Far Away show, and Anastasia Kravchenko poignantly sang the song Beautiful Far Away.
♦ Chapter two of the gala show — Time to Inspire. The incredible Tango performance was demonstrated by the girls from the Belarusian national rhythmic gymnastics team. This was followed by Coloured Dreams. The Silfida aesthetic group gymnastics club and the national synchronised swimming team put on a great show on the stage. There was even a swimming pool, which came as a complete surprise to the audience. Unbelievable! Complete delight!
♦ Chapter three — Time to Love. Inspiration gives birth to love, which gives the strength to overcome any obstacles. Love is life. The show by the girls from the national rhythmic gymnastics team to the song Do Not Part with Your Loved Ones by Janet impressed the audience to tears. The amazing and incredible prima donna of rhythmic gymnastics, Alina Harnasko, closed Time to Love with the performance You Don’t Kiss.
Overall, 400 athletes participated in the Time of Our Victories show ♦ Chapter four — Time to Create. It was opened by the guys from the Belarusian national trampoline team to the composition To the Peaks. Their pirouettes, flights, jumps and complex elements could claim the highest marks in any competition, while the best reward at the gala show was the stormy applause.
♦ After creation, it was the Time to Be Friends chapter. In our fast-paced life, there is something that is stronger than any alloy — this is friendship. The Russian Heavenly Grace Academy of Rhythmic Gymnastics performed the groovy Kalinka with an incredible drive. The acrobatic art ensemble of the circus from Gansu Province of the People’s Republic of China symbolically continued the firm line of friendship. As long as we are united, we are invincible!
♦ The seventh chapter was Time to Remember. It is our sacred duty to honour the memory. The Unread Letter, voiced by actress of the Kupala Theatre Yekaterina Tkach and visualised by the girls from the rhythmic gymnastics team, added a touch of philosophical sadness. Yet, it was light sadness, because such a memory gives energy to act and never give up!
Belarusian medallists of World Cup stages in Wheelchair Dancing delivered an inspiring performance at Time of Our Victories
Polina Gagarina at the Time of Our Victories show, Minsk Arena
♦ Chapter nine — Time to Be Proud. Every minute we live is priceless. To live in peace and harmony, in love and joy is a great happiness. It is necessary and important to remember this, and to be proud of our country, which gives us such an opportunity. A solo performance by Alina Harnasko brought the house down. She is just amazing, our prima Alina! And how beautifully Ivan Litvinovich and Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya performed their programme! Chic and beauty!
♦ Chapter ten — Time to Take Risks. We define the limits of our capabilities ourselves, and it is only in our power to expand them. However, this will never happen if you don’t take risks. The national rhythmic gymnastics team is not afraid to take risks, that is why they deliver such wonderful shows!
♦ Chapter eleven — Time to Be Together. This is a story about all of us — about everyone individually, about every family, about every locality and each city. Together we are a country, a nation, a force that cannot be broken. Polina Gagarina reminded everyone of this with remarkable artistry.
♦ The twelfth chapter was Time of Our Victories. A united people is a strong country. Our time has come — the time of our victories. The song What Have You Done for the Motherland performed by Belarusian pop singers sounded like a real anthem of today and made all the audience ask themselves this question, so simple at first glance, yet incredibly important.
Girls from the national synchronised swimming team put on a great show on the stage The celebration was a success, and the show turned out to be truly unforgettable. Leaving the stands, some people were silent absorbed in thought, delighted by what they had seen. Others, on the contrary, were smiling happily. What is important is that no one was left indifferent! Everyone felt that in order for the time of our victories to really come, we need to unite and work together for the benefit of our native country.By Sergei Kanashits
