Belarus at the Olympics

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Template:Infobox Olympics Belarus Athletes from Belarus began their Olympic participation at the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki, Finland as part of the Soviet Union (IOC code: URS).[1] When the Soviet Union disbanded in 1991, Belarus, along with eleven of the other fourteen former Soviet republics, competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics (held in Barcelona, Spain) as the Unified Team. Earlier in 1992, only four republics joined Belarus to compete as the Unified Team at the Winter Games in Albertville, France. Two years later, Belarus competed for the first time as an independent nation in the 1994 Winter Olympics, held in Lillehammer, Norway.[2] From 1952 until the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, 147 Belarusian athletes won 182 medals while either as part of the Soviet Union or as Independent Belarus.[3]

Medal tables

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal count

Medals by Games

1994 Lillehammer 0 2 0 2 [4]
1996 Atlanta 1 6 8 15 [5]
1998 Nagano 0 0 2 2 [6]
2000 Sydney 3 3 11 17 [7]
2002 Salt Lake City 0 0 1 1 [8]
2004 Athens 2 6 7 15 [9]
2006 Turin 0 1 0 1 [10]
2008 Beijing 4 5 10 19 [11]
Total 10 23 39 72

Soviet Union

Main article: Soviet Union at the Olympics

Athletes from the Soviet Union began participating in the Olympic Games in 1952, winning 194 total medals in the Winter Games[12] and 1010 from the Summer Games for a total of 1204 medals. Out of those medals, 473 were gold, 376 were silver and 355 were bronze.[13] The Belarusian effort for medals began with Mikhail Krivonosov winning silver in the hammer throw at 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. The Soviet Republic's first gold medal was won by Leonid Geishtor and Sergei Makarenko in the canoe event during the 1960 Summer Games in Rome, Italy.[14] In 1988, the Soviet Union competed for the last time as a unified country.[3]

Summer Olympic Games

1996 Atlanta

Main article: Belarus at the 1996 Summer Olympics

In Belarus's first showing at the Summer Olympics, the delegation took home fifteen medals: one gold, six silver and eight bronze. The first Belarusian gold medal was won by Ekaterina Karsten in the event of rowing (women's single sculls). The silver medals were won in the disciplines of athletics, shooting, wrestling (both freestyle and Greco-Roman). The bronze medals were won in artistic gymnastics, athletics, rowing and Greco-Roman wrestling.[15]

2000 Sydney

Main article: Belarus at the 2000 Summer Olympics

The Belarusian Government, using public funds and sponsorships, spent five million USD to prepare the athletes for the games. Speaking to the Belarusian sports paper Pressbol, Minister of Sports and Tourism Yevgeny Vorsin made a bold prediction that Belarus will win four gold medals during the Olympiad.[16] However, the prediction did not come true. In the events Belarus competed it, they only took home 3 gold, 3 silver and 11 bronze medals. The golds were won in rowing, discus throwing and the shot-put; the silvers were won in shooting, individual and team calisthenics; the bronzes were won in hammer throwing, shooting (3), Greco-Roman wrestling, pentathlon, weight lifting (2), judo, heptathlon and discus throwing.[17] One athlete from Belarus, Vadim Devyatovsky, was banned from Olympic competition due to testing positive for the substance nandrolone.[18]

2004 Athens

Main article: Belarus at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Back in 2000, the Belarus Government were using their leftover funds from the Sydney Games to prepare her athletes to compete in the Athens Olympics.[16] During this Olympiad, Belarus sent 153 athletes to compete in 21 disciplines.[19] Overall, Belarus came home with 15 medals: 2 golds, 6 silvers, and 9 bronzes. The gold were won in the 100 meter dash and in judo. The silver medals were won in weightlifting (2), boxing (2), rowing and the hammer throw. The bronze was won in shooting, the discus throw, weightlifting, cycling, rowing (2), wrestling (Greco-Roman) and canoe/kayak (2). Ivan Tikhon originally won the bronze in the hammer throw, but his medal was upgraded to silver after Adrian Annus of Hungary was stripped of his gold medal due to doping.[20] Yuliya Nesterenko, who wasn't expected to do well in the 100 meter dash, unexpectedly took home the gold in the event. She was clocked at 10.93 seconds, beating the second place American and third place Jamaican by seconds.[21]

2008 Beijing

Main article: Belarus at the 2008 Summer Olympics

One hundred and eighty-one athletes from Belarus will compete in 28 events in the Beijing Olympics.[22] Before the Olympics started, the National Olympic Committee of Belarus announced that medal winners will be awarded cash prizes, valued in US Dollars, from the Committee and their sponsors. Another sponsor would have given gold medal winners free sausage for life. The women's basketball team, one of the more popular Olympics, would be given free sausage regardless of what medal they won.[23] The team captain is Ivan Tikhon[24] and fencer Alexander Romankov carried the national flag during the opening ceremonies.[25] Overall, Belarus took home 19 medals, with four medals being gold, placing 13th in the overall medal total.[11] President Lukashenko said his country performed better in Beijing, but he still called the Games a "missed opportunity" for winning less gold than he personally expected. The statement was said at a ceremony of bestowing state decorations to the Olympic Champions by President Lukashenko.[26]

Winter Olympic Games

1994 Lillehammer

Main article: Belarus at the 1994 Winter Olympics

This is the first Olympic Games in which an independent Belarus participated. Thirty-three athletes were sent by Belarus to compete in seven events and came home with two silver medals. The medals were won by Igor Zhelezovski in speed skating and by Svetlana Paramygina in the biathlon.[27]

1998 Nagano

Main article: Belarus at the 1998 Winter Olympics

Belarus sent a delegation to compete in nine events. Belarus only medaled twice, and both of the medals were bronze. The medals were earned by Dmitry Dashchinsky in aerials and Alexey Aidarov in the biathlon.[28] Belarus qualified to make the second round of the hockey tournament, but lost all group A matches and was eliminated by Russia in the quarterfinals, finishing seventh overall.[29] In a speech by President Alexander Lukashenko in 2002, he reflected on the achievements of athletes in the Nagano Games. While watching the events, he stated that the Belarusian athletes competed with dignity and brought glory to Belarus.[30]

2002 Salt Lake City

Main article: Belarus at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Belarus competed in nine events, just like at the 1998 Winter Olympics. However, Belarus only came away with 1 medal, a bronze won by Aleksei Grishin.[31] Belarus drew international attention for their upset of top-seeded Sweden and subsequent 4th place finish in men's ice hockey.[32] However, hockey team member Vasily Pankov, along with Belarusian team doctor Evgeni Lositski, were removed from the Olympic Games due to positive doping results. Lositski was barred from coming to the 2004 and 2006 Olympic games for giving Pankov medication that included nandrolone.[33] Another Belarusian athlete was given a "strong warning" by the IOC for missing a doping test and admonished the NOC RB for helping her miss the test.[34]

2006 Turin

Main article: Belarus at the 2006 Winter Olympics

Sending thirty-three athletes, Belarus competed in eight events[35] with only Dmitry Dashchinsky taking home a silver medal in the aerials. Dashchinsky earned a bronze medal earlier at the 1998 Nagano Games.[14] The result was upsetting to Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus and the head of the NOC RB. He told members of the NOC RB that the coaches are to blame for the poor showing and that Belarus needs victories so they can feel pride as a nation and needs to develop a better sports program. He also told the assembled members that if there are any more poor showings, he will fire the members.[36]

Flag bearers

Games Name
1994 Winter Olympics Igor Zhelezovsky
1996 Summer Olympics Igor Astapkovich
1998 Winter Olympics Alexander Popov
2000 Summer Olympics Sergey Lishtvan
2002 Winter Olympics Oleg Ryzhenkov
2004 Summer Olympics Aleksandr Medved
2006 Winter Olympics Alexander Popov
2008 Summer Olympics Alexander Romankov

National Olympic Committee

Main article: Belarus Olympic Committee

In 1991, an order was issued to create the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Russian: Национальный олимпийский комитет Республики Беларусь), and it was not until 1993 before the NOC RB (НОК РБ) became a full member of the International Olympic Committee.[37] Also in 1993, Vladimir Ryzhenkov, who was at the time the Belarus Minister for Sport and Tourism, was elected to the post of President of the NOC RB. In May of 1997, a year after the death of Ryzhenkov, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko was elected to the post, which he still holds today. Lukashenko is the first known example of a head of state to also lead a National Olympic Committee at the same time.[14] Funding for the NOC RB comes from marketing of goods with the Olympic logo, donations from the private sector, sponsorships and from the national government.[16][38] As head of state, President Lukashenko issued decrees awarding prizes to those who bring home medals, use state funds to prepare for athletes and pay the coaches of the athletes. In 2004, President Lukashenko issued a decree awarding those who win medals in the 2004 and 2006 Olympic Games the following tax-free monetary awards (in United States dollars): $60,000 for gold, $30,000 for silver and $20,000 for bronze.[39] For the 2008 and 2010 games, the following tax-free prizes will be awarded to medal winners and their coaches (in United States dollars): $100,000 for gold, $50,000 for silver and $30,000 for bronze.[40]

References

  1. ^ International Olympic Committee Helsinki 1952 Olympics Overview. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  2. ^ NOC Republic of Uzbekistan. Lillehammer 1994 Games. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  3. ^ a b NOC RB. Belarusian athletes at Olympic Games. Published 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  4. ^ International Olympic Committee. 1994 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  5. ^ International Olympic Committee. 1996 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  6. ^ International Olympic Committee.1998 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  7. ^ International Olympic Committee.2000 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  8. ^ International Olympic Committee.2002 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  9. ^ International Olympic Committee.2004 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  10. ^ International Olympic Committee.2006 Olympics Medal Count. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  11. ^ a b "Overall Medal Standings". Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. 2008-08-25. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  12. ^ CBS Sports Winter Olympics History - URS Medal Totals. Published 1998. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  13. ^ USSR Olympic History and Medal Count. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  14. ^ a b c National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus, retrieved 20 January 2007.
  15. ^ Official 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Results. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  16. ^ a b c BelaPAN, No. 61 News Article: Belarus Has Spent Over $5 Million to Prepare for Sydney, Sports Minister Says. September 14, 2000; 9:10 p.m. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  17. ^ Official 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Results. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  18. ^ Associated Press Stripped - Drug tests cost Bulgarian his silver medal. Published November 9, 2000. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  19. ^ Yahoo Sports 2004 Olympics - Belarus Athletes Details. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  20. ^ Associated Press. U.S. cyclist ends up with bronze. Published August 29, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  21. ^ Australian Broadcasting Corporation Nesterenko wins sprint gold for Belarus. Published August 22, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  22. ^ "Belarus Olympic Delegation Praises BOCOG". Xinhua. 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2008-08-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  23. ^ Makhovsky, Andrei (2008-08-08). "Belarus encourages athletes with...sausage for life". The Guardian. Reuters. Retrieved 2008-08-08. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "President awards Belarusian Olympic team captain". BELTA. 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2008-08-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  25. ^ "Alexander Romankov to carry flag for Belarus at Beijing Olympics". BELTA. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "Meeting With Prize Winners of the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing". Official Internet Portal of the President of the Republic of Belarus. 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2008-09-12. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  27. ^ Official 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Games Report, Volume 4. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  28. ^ Official 1998 Nagano Olympic Games Report. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  29. ^ LCS Hockey 1998 Olympics Hockey Tournament Results. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  30. ^ President of the Republic of Belarus Message by the President of the Republic of Belarus to the Olympians. Given on January 29, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2007
  31. ^ 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games results. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  32. ^ BBC Sports Belarus pull off huge upset. Published February 21, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  33. ^ Associated Press. British Skier Stripped of Medal. Published March 21, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  34. ^ BBC Sports. Belarus skater escapes ban. Published February 23, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  35. ^ Yahoo Sports 2006 Olympics - Belarus Athlete List. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  36. ^ "Belarusian President Slams Coaches For Poor Showing Of Winter Olympics Team". Data.minsk.by. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  37. ^ International Olympic Committee National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  38. ^ Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the United States Olympic Movement in Belarus. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  39. ^ President of the Republic of Belarus Worth of Olympic Prizes for Belarusian Athletes Fixed. Passed January 23, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2007
  40. ^ President of the Republic of Belarus Comments to Presidential Decree No 636 of October 27, 2006. Passed October 27, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2007

External links

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