The III sports and tourism rally of the state administration bodies of the Vitebsk region was held in Novopolotsk (+photo report)

The III sports and tourism gathering of employees of state administration bodies of the Vitebsk region was held at the Novopolotsk State College of the Olympic Reserve.

It is symbolic that the next sports festival coincided with the main competitions of the 4-year cycle – the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. By the way, the passions on the gathering grounds were also quite fierce. Officials (teams from all city and district executive committees, administrations of Vitebsk districts were represented here) lifted heavy barbells, played volleyball and basketball, proved who had a steadier hand and sharper eye in the shooting range, ran, rode bicycles, threw logs, and overcame a tourist obstacle course…

The venue for the gathering was not chosen by chance. The Novopolotsk College is famous for its victories and has a decent base for various sports. Its director, Valery Gushchin, does not hide his satisfaction with the recent visit of the head of the Belarusian Biathlon Federation, Chairman of the KGB Valery Vakulchik, and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Amkodor company, Alexander Shakutin, who donated expensive equipment for preparing the ski track. Recently, an Alley of Glory was laid on the territory of the sports institution. The first sapling was planted by Olympic medalist Vadim Devyatovsky, and the latest of almost fifty trees to date – Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Nikolai Sherstnev – on the very day the competitions began.

Opening the gathering, the head of the region emphasized that initially the goal of holding such events was through employees

government should promote the values of a healthy lifestyle to the public and set an example of an active stance. But, perhaps, the most important thing, emphasized Nikolay Nikolayevich, is to involve officials in sports and for them to learn about the problems that exist in the sports sphere. And there are many of them: from a shortage of uniforms, equipment, and inventory to the absence of playgrounds. There are neglected stadiums that need to be restored. "Who, if not you, should create the base on which we will train our future Olympians? When you immerse yourselves in the atmosphere of sports, I have no doubt that success will come to us, and the material and technical base will become even more modern," is confident Nikolay Sherstnev.

Although much is being done in this regard at present, as it was done in the past. Wonderful ice palaces have been built, and they are all full today: the ice is booked from 5 am to 12 am. Authorities try to time the commissioning of sports facilities for holidays. For example, a sports ground was built for the last "Dazhynki" in Tolochin. The republican federation of trade unions provided assistance in its construction. This year, a new facility will be commissioned in Senno – a physical culture and health complex, and the stadium has been improved. Just a month ago, a magnificent sports complex was opened in Orsha with a hall for boxing and a magnificent hall for team sports. The Vitebsk CSK has been renovated, and a new weightlifting hall will be operational in the regional center within a month. And there are many such examples, but there are still not enough facilities, believes the head of the region. We are a small country, and to look decent on the world stage, we must create a base to train children from kindergarten age. Andadults should set an example. The head of the region congratulated those present on the sports holiday and wished them successful performances.

A noteworthy fact. If earlier the heads of the regions were mandatorily participating only in shooting competitions (this year the head of the administration of the Oktyabrsky district of Vitebsk, Sergey Stashevsky, won), then now badminton has been added to it (the victory was celebrated by the chairman of the Gorodok district executive committee, Petr Korobach).

By the way, Nikolay Sherstnev himself, being by no means a bystander in the two disciplines listed, showed excellent results in the two-pood kettlebell clean and jerk (50 times, 2nd place) and bench press (160 kg, first place). After their attempts, the spectators repeatedly chanted in unison: "Well done!". In the latter discipline, Vladimir Sherstnev, who came from the capital for this occasion, competed with his father out of competition. He lagged a little behind, but showed a result worthy of a prize-winner.

As for the results of the rally, the first place was predictably won by the regional executive committee team with a large margin.

The teams of Beshenkovichi and Liozno districts were ranked behind it.

The deserved awards to the winners in team and individual competitions were presented by the chairman of the organizing committee for the rally, chairman of the regional council of deputies Vladimir Terentyev, and the head of the department of sports and tourism of the regional executive committee, Vasily Zakharevich.

After the competitions, I asked the head of the regional authorities about the venue for the next starts. The task is not just to hold a rally, but to show the level, the existing bases, so that

everyone knew what to aim for. The location for new starts has not yet been determined, although two contenders have already volunteered: the children's sanatorium "Zhemchuzhina" near Lepel and Orsha with its developed infrastructure. So, competitions at an even higher level are definitely to be held.

Ales Byньkov.Photo by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye vesti".