President's Sports Club and hockey players of President's team took part in Christmas Tradition campaign

The President's Sports Club and the hockey players of the President's team have taken part in the Christmas Tradition campaign, inviting pupils of the Gorodeya special boarding school to Minsk’s Olympic Arena. Boys and girls enjoyed a rich programme: together with the hockey players, they skated, were taught to shoot at the goal and attended a theatrical performance.

“The Christmas Tradition campaign is probably the kindest and most heart-warming one among the events of the President’s Sports Club. Look at children’s emotions: they are overwhelming, and they are great! I think this tradition should continue," Dmitry Lukashenko, the Chairman of the President’s Sports Club, said.

There were really a lot of emotions. Putting on their skates, children joined the hockey players on the ice. At first, the Gorodeya special boarding school pupils were awkward but – twenty minutes later – they already confidently started skating, under the strict guidance and support of professionals.

Smiling Sergey Kurda shared his emotions, “I really liked everything! Thank you so much for inviting us. I skated earlier, but I have learned a lot here: how to move properly, why it is necessary to bend knees. I also liked shooting at the goal. Actually, I love hockey, I am a Dinamo fan and often watch matches.”

The hockey players were also overwhelmed with emotions. “Participation in such an event is a great pleasure,” Maksim Shimansky admitted. “In turn, it is a holiday for children, and these memories will keep them warm for a long time. Just look at how their eyes are shining: boys and girls want to skate across the ice area and shoot pucks at the goal!”

“It is very nice to see that children are happy here, on the ice,” Denis Matyukhin added. “We are glad to help them take their first steps in sports. Let them come and skate in the future – they should enjoy! May Christmas be a fairy tale for them!”

Eighty-one children with special needs are being educated at the Gorodeya special boarding school, and – as noted by its Deputy Director for Educational Work Lyudmila Masyuk – they have been seriously preparing for the Christmas Tradition campaign. “We are very grateful that our children have the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful event. They had been waiting for this meeting for a long time. Long before the New Year, they decided that they would come to Minsk not empty-handed. They have prepared souvenirs and pastries: our boys and girls really wanted to please the representatives of the President’s Sports Club and the hockey players of the President's team,” she said.

Not all pupils of the school have managed to come to Minsk, but the holiday will touch everyone: children will receive gifts that they wished for the New Year — toys, educational kits, headphones, and sports equipment. The President’s Sports Club has allocated financial assistance to the institution – as is traditional.