17.07.2012
Lukashenko: The more Olympic medals for Belarus, the better
SOLIGORSK, 17 July (BelTA) - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko expects high results from the Belarusian Olympians in London. The President made this statement as he spoke with the Belaruskali personnel on 17 July, BelTA has learnt.
“I have already said that victory is the most important thing, not participation. The more medals we win the better. No doubt, the top places in the medal standings will be occupied by the USA, China, Germany, Russia and the UK. It is difficult for us to compete with the planet in the overall medal table,” the head of state said.
“We always set a kind of a bar for ourselves: 25 medals – hail the heroes. But the athletes have recently said that to win 25 medals is difficult. Well, let it be 20 but five of them should be gold. It is also difficult, they say. I am afraid to speak of any successes, for I have already become a superstitious person. But everybody speaks about 25 medals, so I agree,” the President said.
“I said at the Slavonic Bazaar that the Olympic Games has long ceased to be about sport. It is politics, sometimes dirty politics,” Alexander Lukashenko added.
“I have already said that victory is the most important thing, not participation. The more medals we win the better. No doubt, the top places in the medal standings will be occupied by the USA, China, Germany, Russia and the UK. It is difficult for us to compete with the planet in the overall medal table,” the head of state said.
“We always set a kind of a bar for ourselves: 25 medals – hail the heroes. But the athletes have recently said that to win 25 medals is difficult. Well, let it be 20 but five of them should be gold. It is also difficult, they say. I am afraid to speak of any successes, for I have already become a superstitious person. But everybody speaks about 25 medals, so I agree,” the President said.
“I said at the Slavonic Bazaar that the Olympic Games has long ceased to be about sport. It is politics, sometimes dirty politics,” Alexander Lukashenko added.