President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko demands high sports results, which should become the benchmark for salaries and incentives in this sphere. The Head of State emphasized this on November 17 during a report on measures of state support for physical culture and sports organizations, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko demands high sports results, which should become the benchmark for salaries and incentives in this sphere. The Head of State emphasized this on November 17 during a report on measures of state support for physical culture and sports organizations, BELTA was informed by the press service of the Belarusian leader.
Alexander Lukashenko stressed that "once again, we are forced to address the issue of providing state support to sports organizations."
According to him, all necessary conditions for the development of physical culture and sports are being created in our country. Considerable funds, including state funds, are invested in this sphere. The problems of infrastructure development, organization of sports events, and, of course, the salaries of specialists are not ignored. Decree No. 191 "On providing support to physical culture and sports organizations," signed on April 15, 2013, is aimed at resolving all these issues.
The Head of State posed a reasonable question: is there the result that the country expected when allocating considerable funds to support sports in today's very challenging conditions?
"The decree has been in effect for a year and a half, and today I would like to hear an objective assessment of its effectiveness based on what life and practice tell us. Especially since you have submitted further proposals for regulating legal relations in this area," Alexander Lukashenko emphasized. "The arguments in their support must be substantial. I would like to hear these arguments today."
The President recalled the basic principles of providing state support to sports, primarily to team sports clubs. Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that wasteful spending of funds must not be allowed. According to him, assistance should only be provided to those who seek opportunities to generate income from their activities. To those who work for the future, strive to financially support their club's activities, and seek opportunities for development.
One of the key requirements of the decree is the mandatory financing of infrastructure and youth sports by clubs receiving state support. The President is convinced that without an effectively built club vertical and the training of a worthy reserve, sustainable success in sports is impossible. Therefore, great attention was paid during the report to discussing issues of youth sports development. The Head of State instructed to carefully consider the financing mechanism for youth sports schools, irrespective of other issues. The upbringing of the younger generation of athletes is an important matter.
Alexander Lukashenko demanded stricter state financing of the sports industry. "The main thing is the sports result. Only this should be the measure of all salaries, bonuses, and other payments," stated Alexander Lukashenko. "Those who show normal results can count on support."
At the same time, he noted: "Probably, none of those who achieved results, starting with Darya Domracheva, can be offended by the state that we are not fulfilling our obligations somewhere."
"Unfortunately, as I am informed, not all organizations are ready to work for the future, but prefer to live for the day," emphasized the Head of State. "Such parasitic sentiments will be suppressed in the harshest way, up to the termination of state support and the recovery of all sums received."
"I am often told - if we do not provide support to this or that club now, it will perish, this sport will die out," noted the President. - Let it perish and let it die out. I am telling you this publicly. We simply do not need to finance 'amateurism', as they say in Belarus. Therefore, if they have entered the sports arena, this applies most to team players, then let them deliver results. And not just results - they must create a mood in society, bring glory to the state, enhance the state's image. These are the ones we should support and encourage, and also the children - because without them there will be no great athletes."
Alexander Lukashenko demanded clear answers to the questions - how the Presidential decree is working today, whether the set tasks have been achieved, and what measures are being taken against organizations that do not comply with this document. The President also considers it necessary to assess the overall picture of state support for sports organizations and its targeted use.
"I would like to specifically highlight the issues of sports organizations receiving funds from international and foreign sources. For what purposes are they allocated and what are they actually used for?" the Head of State inquired. "As you know, until recently, these funds were exempt from taxation, but I have instructed to stop this practice – everyone must pay taxes. It is time to put things in order here as well. As I have been informed, it is already being done."
The President recalled that when the stadium in Borisov was being built, BATE constantly asked him: "We have received funds, exempt them from taxes, part of it will go to the stadium." "This is reasonable. I promised them a long time ago: if you play well, we will build a stadium, and we built it. A good, comfortable stadium, you can play. I mention BATE because it is well-known. There are many complaints about this club, but it is our best club, I am not talking about others," emphasized Alexander Lukashenko.
The President proposed to carefully consider and discuss all these issues in order to make an optimal decision. In particular, he noted: "You understand perfectly well – there is no easy money, no extra money, and it is not needed. Money must be earned, the conditions are there. And these conditions must be tightened every year to exclude any state budget funding for clubs that are essentially commercial. We need to move towards this gradually, as I told you. If there are results, we will promptly find money in the budget to reward athletes or organizations."
The Head of State also instructed to clearly define salaries in the sports sector. "Salaries must be defined, everything must be transparent. There should be no unfairly earned money. All issues must be regulated," the President demanded.
During the report, it was proposed to be guided in the future by a formula that would stimulate earning money: the more funds sports clubs earn, the same amount of funds the state will allocate to them.
Overall, Alexander Lukashenko supported the proposals of the government and public organizations aimed at stimulating the activities of sports clubs and their independent earning of funds.
The Head of State instructed to finalize the amendments planned to be made to the decree concerning the provision of support to physical culture and sports organizations.