Women's bouts will be held for the first time at the boxing tournament in memory of internationalist soldiers in Vitebsk

March 14, Vitebsk / Sergey Kotovets - BELTA /. More than 100 athletes will take part in the XIII open republican boxing tournament dedicated to the memory of internationalist soldiers, which will be held in Vitebsk from March 16 to 18. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the department of physical culture, sports and tourism of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee. The competitions will bring together representatives of sports schools from all regions of Belarus, as well as athletes from regions of Russia and Estonia. For the first time, there will be fights among women. This decision was made by the organizers to popularize this sport and taking into account that women's boxing is included in the official program of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Athletes born in 1992, competing in the Olympic weight category up to 60 kg, have been invited to Vitebsk. The men's part of the tournament will traditionally be held among athletes of three age groups (1997-1998, 1995-1996, and 1993-1994) in various weight categories. The fights will take place at the Vitebsk Central Sports Complex. The grand opening of the competitions will be held on March 16, and the final bouts in all weight categories are scheduled for March 18, after which the award ceremony for the winners and prize-winners of the tournament will take place. A cultural program has been prepared for the athletes during the memorial boxing tournament. The participants of the competition will honor the memory of internationalist soldiers by laying wreaths and flowers at the monument to fallen Afghan soldiers in Vitebsk. In addition, boxers will visit the Museum of Internationalist Soldiers and other cultural and educational institutions. The organizers of the tournament in memory of internationalist soldiers are the regional executive committee and the city executive committee, the public association "Vitebsk Boxing Federation", the Vitebsk city organization of the public association of veterans of Afghanistan "Brotherhood" with the support of the NOC representative office for the Vitebsk region. -0-