The Belarusian Trampoline Championships have commenced in Vitebsk. Over 70 athletes from across the country are competing in several program disciplines.
Oleg Andreichik, Deputy Minister of Sport and Tourism of Belarus, addressed the attendees with a welcoming speech. He wished the championship participants high sporting achievements, emphasizing that the best athletes not only from our country but also from the world have gathered here.
– This is one of the competitions that will influence the upcoming World Championships, – two-time Olympic champion Ivan Litvinovich told "VV". – We are demonstrating combinations similar to those we will perform in Spain in November.
One of the highlights of the Belarusian Championships is the mixed pairs competition. This relatively new discipline was introduced by the International Gymnastics Federation to popularize trampoline gymnastics. It adds extra spectacle to tournaments, although it has not yet been included in the Olympic program.
– In the mixed pairs competition, I will be jumping with a new partner, Yana Lebedeva from Vitebsk, – Ivan Litvinovich continues. – We have been training together for about a month. We will try to surprise the judges. Of course, I would like to win in all program disciplines, but the strongest will prevail.
Vyacheslav Durnov, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee, stressed that the Belarusian Championship is of paramount importance for all its participants:
– In the Vitebsk region, there are long-standing winning traditions in trampoline gymnastics, supported by highly qualified specialists from Children and Youth Sports School No. 1. Why are these competitions important? Here, young athletes compete alongside experienced athletes. Each has their own plans for this tournament. We hope they will achieve their goals.
– The Belarusian Championships are one of the main events of the season, – shared Vitebsk resident Anna Krivoguz. – The level of competition here is very high. I have been preparing for this championship for about two months. I will mainly be performing double somersaults. I am aiming for a prize-winning place.
The competitions will take place over three days. Today is the preliminary program, with finals scheduled for Saturday.