NOC flag, which flew into space, raised at its headquarters in Minsk
Hero of Belarus Marina Vasilevskaya, who had made the first space flight in the sovereign history of our country in March 2024, visited the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus, sb.by reports with reference to the NOC
During the expedition, the NOC flag visited the orbit of the International Space Station. Today, on July 19th, Marina Vasilevskaya handed this flag to NOC President Viktor Lukashenko. The flag-raising ceremony took place at the NOC headquarters, and was also attended by pupils of Minsk’s Leader education and recreation centre. The female cosmonaut held a photo and autograph session, while also answering questions from young guests about the flight.
“Only physically healthy and psychologically stable people fly into space. Your preparation for the flight in such a short period is a vivid example not only for us, ordinary people, but also for athletes who reach their heights in sports,” Viktor Lukashenko underlined. “Now the NOC flag, which has been in space, proudly flies in front of our headquarters. May this become a good omen and bring new victories and achievements to our athletes!”
“I’d like to wish our Olympians to achieve even greater heights in their careers and cosmic happiness,” Marina Vasilevskaya said. “After the flight, I’m often invited to meetings with young people. It’s nice that a new generation is interested in space. I wish youngsters who have been at the meeting today to believe in their dream, go only forward, dare, create and be responsive — then everything will work out.”
Before being sent into space, the flag from the NOC museum exposition visited the top of Europe’s highest peak. On August 6th last year, the flag was raised on Mount Elbrus by 2008 Olympic champion in canoeing, Chairman of Belarus’ Ice Hockey Federation Aliaksandr Bahdanovich. In 2006, a group of Belarusian climbers hoisted a banner on Mount Everest, and in 2012 and 2013, the flag visited Antarctica and the North Pole.
