President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko criticized the sportsmen for the thirst for profit instead of aspirations to glorify his country at international events. This is reported by Telegram-channel Berta.
According to politics, most Belarusian athletes are not interested in raising the level of sports achievements, since in any case, they are guaranteed material remuneration from the state. This fact believes the head of state, undermines the quality of training of national sports teams.
“they sit and twitch in these iPhones. And all – for BCB (white-red-white flag – approx.” Tape.ru “). From idleness. This is not only my conclusion. There are people who are watching these processes, and they say directly: to whom we pay money? ” – Lukashenko indignant.
He stressed that the low results of the Belarusian national team at the Olympics in Tokyo only confirm his guesses. The reason for the growth of opposition mood in athletes and their families, he found the “absence of strict discipline,” but stressed that it does not object to material incentives for those who showed themselves on competitions worthy.
July 9 Lukashenko called on Belarusian athletes to defend the country’s honor at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and give a worthy repulsory to those States that “try to strangle Belarus.” He noted that the slogan “Sport out of politics” has long been not consistent with the current system of international relations, and the sanction pressure of the West on the country has proven this.
In Belarus, mass protests continued with the demanding of Lukashenko’s resignation after the presidential elections in August 2020. Tens of thousands of people were detained, many told about torture and beating in insulators. At least four people died, hundreds received prison terms for opposition activities.
Most protest leaders fled abroad, the remaining were arrested and accused of trying to make a coup. Lukashenko found anti-government speeches by interference from Western countries. The European Union, the USA and the United Kingdom responded with personal and economic sanctions.