In 2008, athletes from the Vitebsk region won almost 200 medals at competitions both domestically and abroad

May 15, Vitebsk / Sergey Kochetov - BELTA /. In 2008, athletes from the Vitebsk region won almost 200 medals of various denominations at national championships and official international competitions in Olympic sports, as well as 2 silver medals at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, and one gold and 2 silver medals at the XIII Paralympic Games. This was announced by the head of the physical culture, sports and tourism department of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Sergey Marchenko, today at a gala evening dedicated to the Day of Physical Culture and Sports Workers, according to a BELTA correspondent. At the European and World Championships, Cups, and Games, athletes from the region won 86 awards, including 32 gold, 25 silver, and 29 bronze medals. At the national championships, representatives of the Vitebsk region won over 100 awards of various denominations. 62 sports are developed in the region, 35 of which are Olympic. A total of over 650 athletes from the Dvina region are included in the national teams of Belarus in various sports. The training of sports reserves is carried out by 62 sports schools, 2 Olympic reserve schools, the regional school of higher sportsmanship, and the Olympic reserve center for equestrian sports, where about 22.5 thousand young athletes are trained. In 2008, 5 athletes fulfilled the standard of master of sports of international class, 108 representatives of the region became masters of sports, and another 221 became candidates for master of sports. In addition, 40 young promising athletes and 25 candidates for participation in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games received personal scholarships from the regional executive committee. At the gala evening, commemorative prizes and gifts were presented to sports veterans of the Vitebsk region, coaches, and the best physical culture and sports workers. The results of two regional reviews and competitions for the best organization of educational and sports work and the organization of work with the population were also summed up and winners were awarded. Among the specialized educational and sports institutions, the Vitebsk Children's and Youth Sports School of the Olympic Reserve No. 2 and the Novopolotsk Children's and Youth Sports School of the primary organization "Belkhimprofsoyuz" of OJSC "Naftan" became the winners. The gala evening concluded with a festive concert by amateur groups. -0-