MINSK, Feb 2 (NNN-BELTA) — The Minsk Arena sports and entertainment centre will raise the popularity of Belarus as a sports European country, said President Alexander Lukashenko when he opened the multi-purpose centre here over the weekend.

“By opening this magnificent cultural and sports center we are opening a new and, I am sure, a bright page in the history of the Belarusian sports,” he said Saturday.

“We have set up a strong bastion that would help us clinch great victories at the world’s sports arenas, would become a good starting-point for the champions-to-be. The centre will also become a favourite place for Belarusians, beautify the capital and improve Belarus’ image as a sports European state.”

According to the president, great attention was being given to the development of sports in the country. “I think that sport in Belarus has become a lifestyle already” the Belarusian leader believes.

President Lukashenko was glad to note that the country had recently taken a decent place in the world’s sports elite and reached the leading position in the sports facility construction. Over the decade some twenty large sports facilities had been constructed across the country. Among them are ice arenas, swimming pools, ski centres, multifunctional sports centers both in large towns

He Lukashenko stressed that despite the crisis and present-day challenges, Belarus had been erecting sports facilities for improving the health of the nation and enhancing the living standards of the Belarusian people.

“I have already told my people and especially those who criticized us for the construction of too many sports facilities that any sovereign and independent state should create its symbols of sovereignty and independence; and it has never been cheap. But it is not about money, it is about health that cannot be bought. Health “is bought” here with intensive and hard work,” he emphasized.

“I am sure we will take pride in this centre and show that we are able to construct such
objects by ourselves.”

Minsk-Arena is a unique centre developed with the help of the latest technologies. It is the largest sports facility in Europe. The President also pointed to a relatively short period of time spent on its construction. Minsk-Arena is to host the 2014 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship. — NNN-BELTA

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