Only world-class athletes can count on state support – Łukašenka

December 15, BPN. Alaksandr Łukašenka has said the government should only provide support for world-class athletes.

“If you say that athletes should be supported, I do agree, but only the ones who demonstrate world-class results,” he told sports officials in Minsk, as quoted by his press office.

He addressed the sports minister: “The World Cup is underway. For some reason, Siarhiej Michajłavič [Kavalčuk], I haven’t noticed our footballers there. Or am I just bad at watching the World Cup?”

“The state of this and many other sports is dreadful,” he said.

Besides Kavalčuk, the meeting was attended by Łukašenka’s own son Viktar, who presides over the National Olympic Committee, as well as by the Presidential Administration’s Deputy Head Ihar Łucki and Deputy Prime Minister Ihar Pietryšenka.