The opening ceremony was also attended by Minsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Turchin, Director of the Dzerzhinsk District children's and youth sports school Mikhail Yurkevich, European and world champion in judo and sambo Yuri Rybak, and winner of national judo competitions Valeria Trukhanovich.
Dzerzhinsk celebrated Town Day at the end of May. So the opening of the new sports and recuperation complex in the district center was, in a certain sense, a Town Day gift for local residents.
Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarusians should take their health more seriously. “If every person, including a child, takes care of their health (at least at the bare minimum), they will no longer need medicines or in-patient treatment. In other words, we build such ‘health centers’ so that you will stay away from pharmacies and hospitals,” he noted.
“I once suggested that every school should have sports facilities, especially rural schools. But such sports centers are also needed. There is a great demand for such centers in every district. People particularly long for a swimming pool. So we built a good sports and recuperation center. Hopefully, this will encourage people to take a better care of their health. And most importantly, our children will have the opportunity to do sports. I will be very happy to hear one day that this sports complex has nurtured European, world and Olympic champions. And this is possible: the regions have the most physically developed people,” the president said.
The head of state expressed hope that similar facilities will be built in all districts of Minsk Oblast. “I think the governor, who is a young, athletic man, will keep it up, and over the next five-year period we will have such facilities in every district. We have few districts with no complexes like this. Therefore, we should build them. This is a health factory. And I wish you the most important thing - health, we’ll buy everything else,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
The sports complex in Dzerzhinsk is part of the Dzerzhinsk District children’s and youth sports school. Its construction began in April 2022; Br24.3 million was allocated to build the complex and purchase the necessary equipment.
The sports center has facilities to play football, basketball, judo and table tennis. The opening of a swimming school is being considered. Residents of Dzerzhinsk and nearby villages will have the opportunity to play sports.
The president toured the facilities of the complex and even made a symbolic first kick on the ball in a match between football veterans of Minsk Oblast.
“It has everything for basic athlete training,” the head of state noted.
Speaking with the football players, Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled that he was fond of football when he was young and injured his knee during one of matches. “The toughest sport that we have,” he added.
The athletes gave Aleksandr Lukashenko a photograph taken on 15 October 1996. On this day, a friendly match between Belarusian football veterans and students took place at the Dynamo stadium. Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the match. And one of the football players present at the opening of the sports complex was refereeing that match.
While leaving the sports center, the head of state was greeted by local residents. He urged them to get actively involved in sprucing up their hometown: “After all, it’s a satellite town of the capital city. So join in.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko asked if they had any questions for him. But people only wanted to express appreciation. “Please, don’t!” the president interrupted them. “I’m just doing my job. Therefore, live long, be healthy, play sports here. This sports facility is amazing.”
The head of state also noted that he will continue to inspect the region from the air. “I was worried that this hurricane would wreak havoc, especially to our crops. But God had mercy on us. Some fields were damaged a bit because of our mismanagement: we put in extra fertilizers although the soil was already humid there. But it’s okay, we can handle it. If everything goes well, help agricultural workers. Local agricultural enterprises are doing pretty well, and those in charge know their job well. Sometimes you might need to lend a helping hand, especially with machine operators, your machine operators are really strong guys,” said Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Written by belta.by
