President backs new Belarus rowing course

By Melissa Bray

Gold medallist Karsten and President Lukashenko

Thanks to the success of single sculler, Ekaterina Karsten, Belarus has been on the medals table at World Rowing events ever since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. The country’s president Alexander Lukashenko has recognised the value of rowing in Belarus and last Friday the first of seven new rowing courses was officially opened.

The Centre for Olympic Training in Rowing opened in Brest, Belarus’s southwest city on the Polish border, as a 10-laned international standard course, complete with Swiss Timing measuring system.

There is no doubt about the government’s backing of the project as President Lukashenko attended and spoke at the ceremony, publicly praising the success of rowing in Belarus.

President Lukashenko making his opening speech

In his opening speech Lukashenko said the Brest rowing centre would give new impetus to the popularisation of rowing and Belarus would continue to develop the rowing base.

“Sport success means not only the country’s prestige, but the resolution of problems of defensive capacity, demographic security and a stronger gene pool of the nation,” the President said. (Belarusian Telegraph Agency, 25/5/07)

Also in attendance was Piotr Prokapovich President of Belarus Rowing Federation, Aleksandr Grigorov Minister of Sport, Viktor Korzh Ukraine Minister of Sport and Sergey Bubka IOC member as well as the Belarus national rowing team and FISA Executive Director Matt Smith.

Smith described Lukashenko as a huge sports fan – he also occupies the role as President of the Belarus Olympic Committee – and well informed about rowing. “Mr Lukashenko and Ekaterina Karsten have a close relationship,” said Smith. “He has supported her since winning her 1996 Olympic gold medal.” Belarus Olympic bronze medallist, Yuliya Bichyk was also in attendance and was presented with a symbolic key to the Olympic rowing training centre by Lukashenko.

“It was a great opportunity to see the total support of sport from the top of the government down to citizens of Brest,” said Smith. “It’s great to see the high profile of our sport.”

Finish tower area

Construction of the Brest rowing canal began, following a presidential order, in 2004 and the facility includes a full sports facility at the finish area with gym and indoor swimming pool, an eight-bay boathouse as well as a hotel.

Lukashenko also announced that Brest would be bidding for the 2010 World Rowing Under 23 Championships and the 2009 European Championships.

Following the opening, Brest hosted the two day International Junior Regatta “Friendship” hosting rowers from 11 countries including Serbia and Bulgaria. Belarus scored a large number of the medals. The event is in its eighth year.

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