Knocking out ‘little towns’

Molodechno is hosting the World Gorodki Sports Championship

Seventeen participating countries, competitions in three disciplines, spectacular entertainment for fans — the tournament on gorodki [a Russian game similar to skittles] that kicks off today, on August 1st, has everything to surprise

Gorodki game

The World Gorodki Sports Championship will be held in the district centre of Minsk Region for the second time. For the first time, a tournament of this scale was held in Molodechno back in 2009. Since then, the infrastructure for the game has been significantly updated. Aleksandr Kulak, Deputy Chairman of the Belarusian Gorodki Sports Federation, Vice-president of the International Federation and senior coach of the gorodki sports department at the Molodechno Specialised Children and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve of Trade Unions, shared the insights, “Thanks to the governor of Minsk Region, Aleksandr Turchin, a new modern gorodki stadium has been built in Molodechno near the Ice Palace. This is the best venue in Belarus and one of the best in the whole world. It is ready to host the World Cup.”  The composition and geography of the competitors promise to be diverse. Representatives from over a dozen and a half countries are expected to vie for the tournament’s awards. The participants will be divided into two groups. The strongest teams from Belarus, Russia, Germany, and Kazakhstan will compete in Group A, while Group B will consist of countries that have already begun to develop gorodki sports and plan to continue. Aleksandr Kulak noted that China will be represented by a large team, and athletes from Turkmenistan, Congo, Ecuador, Armenia, Cuba, Ghana, France, Iran, Türkiye, Egypt, Guinea, and Canada will also contend for the championship’s prizes. “Our team will feature a traditionally strong squad, including athletes from different cities — Molodechno, Minsk, Zhodino, Rogachev, Berezovka, Mogilev, Gomel. The leader of the women’s national team will be four-time world champion Galina Zhavoronkova, while the men’s team will be led by world championship medallist Gennady Sushko. The team comprises both experienced and young athletes,” the specialist revealed. “The championship programme envisages competitions in three disciplines — classic gorodki, Finnish kyykkä and European skittles. We plan to win medals in each of them. However, we understand that it will not be easy — after all, we will have to compete with a very strong Russian national team, and a German team full of ambitions.” 
The Russians have recently held the national championship and determined the squad for the World Cup in Molodechno. Aleksandr Kulak stressed that behind each name in the Russian team is a titled athlete. The world and Russian champion, Anastasia Kovleshenko, the winner and medallist of the world championships, Aleksei Gorbatykh, Aleksei Yeliseyev and Nina Yeliseyeva are getting ready for the tournament. The composition is top-notch! The interlocutor cited another curious fact: at the last World Gorodki Sports Championship, which was held in 2022 in Priozersk, Leningrad Region, the Russians took 11 out of 12 gold medals. Let’s see how it goes this time! Along with that, exciting competitions are not everything that the organisers have prepared for the audience. “Everyone wishing to participate can try their hand at gorodki — playgrounds for this have been set up. In addition, there are retail outlets and a food court available, as well as music bands are scheduled to perform. It will be interesting,” Aleksandr Kulak promised. “By the way, the competitions will be held at two venues: classic gorodki and European skittles will take place at the new stadium near the Ice Palace, while Finnish kyykkä will be hosted at the site on Tchaikovsky Street.”  Gorodki sport has an uneasy history. Although this sport celebrated its centenary anniversary last year — it was in 1923 that its rules were approved — the game actually originated much earlier. It was highly popular in the Soviet Union in the 1950s – 1960s; now, alas, the situation is different. Nevertheless, Aleksandr Kulak is sure that things can change. “Once again, I want to express my gratitude to the governor of our region for supporting gorodki sports. The World Cup will take place at a new venue, with chairmen of the district executive committees of the region invited to attend the tournament, where they can witness the competitions. It is possible that gorodki sites will also emerge in other districts. They do not have to be of the same level as the stadium in Molodechno, but be suitable for holding regional competitions. As far as I know, the construction of a gorodki playground in Kopyl District is under completion, the one in Logoisk District is planned to be commissioned in September; next in line are playgrounds in Zhodino, Soligorsk, Maryina Gorka. I hope that the World Cup and the excitement around gorodki sports will serve as an impetus for its revival.” 

By Tatiana Pastushenko