Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation. Newsletter #1

The Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation has been created and launched on

the initiative of the sports community representatives. From 16th to 21st of

August, around 350 sports community representatives signed an open public

appeal to the Belarusian authorities demanding not to recognize the presidential

elections 2020 results, stop violence and release all political prisoners.

https://www.pressball.by/pbonline/other/87900

Strong pressure was exerted on many of the signatories. The athletes and employees were summoned to meetings with the Ministry of Sports top management and security forces. Most of the signatories were demanded to withdraw

their signatures. These days the following happens in the sports sphere: layoffs,

exclusion of the athletes from their teams, cuts in payments, and scholarships.

To date, there are already about 20 facts of dismissal due to political reasons.

Among the signatories are the European and world champion in athletics Marina

Arzamasova, European champions in athletics Olga Mazurenok, Elvira German,

world and European sambo champion Stepan Popov, silver medalist of the Olympic Games 2008 and European champion in athletics Andrey Kravchenko, twotimes Olympic medalist in swimming Aliaksandra Herasimenia,

Olympic Games 1980 cycling champion Oleg Logvin, Olympic freestyle skiing champion Anna

Guskova, world freestyle skiing champion Alexandra Romanovskaya, multiply

world and European champion in rhythmic gymnastic Melitina Staniouta, and

many others. There are even more people from Belarusian sport industry who,

although hasn’t signed the letter, express opinion on situation in Belarus last

three weeks after elections.

WHO RAISES FUNDS?

The Foundation has been created with the participation of the BY_help campaigns co-founders (Andrey Strizhak, Alexey Lyavonchik), the Belarusian diaspora,and business circles (Yaroslav Likhachevsky, Mikita Mikado, Dmitry Navosha), as well the Belarusian sports community representatives.

WHO WILL THE FOUNDATION HELP?

The Foundation has been created to help the sports industry representatives who have lost their jobs because they participated in protests against the Belarusian elections 2020 results and also because of their openly civil position demonstration. The primary task of the Foundation is to support the Belarusian sports community representatives in distress.

THE NEW BELARUS

The violence that we see now captured Belarus, the lies that we hear about

peaceful demonstrations from the state media pull our people apart. Solidarity

and mutual assistance give a chance to join all healthy forces and active citizens

for the sake of the new Belarus, in which there will be a place for everyone who

did not torture, kill or humiliate the human dignity.

THE PRINCIPLES OF WORK

The Foundation accepts applications from those who need help and distributes

this help based on the openness and transparency principles, accountability to

donors, and respect for the citizens’ rights and freedom. For those dismissed for

political reasons and ready to resign from service/work in protest.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only