A catastrophically low number of Belarusian athletes are going to the Winter Olympics in Italy
The Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee has approved the composition of the delegation for the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, reports the NOC press service.
Photo: biathlonworld.com
Only five Belarusian female athletes will compete in five disciplines at the main start of the quadrennial. These are Hanna Huskova (freestyle), Maryna Zuyeva (speed skating), Viktoryia Safonava (figure skating), Hanna Karaliova (cross-country skiing), and Maryia Shkanava (alpine skiing).
Initially, Hanna Machekhina earned a license in cross-country skiing, but the quota in this sport is not individual (named). By decision of the coaches, the spot went to the national team leader Karaliova.
Never since 1994 has the composition of the Belarusian delegation been so small. It was more often around 30 athletes (plus or minus three), at the last Olympics in Beijing — 29. In Nagano-1998 — 59.
However, after Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, sanctions were imposed on Russian and Belarusian sports, and Belarusian and Russian athletes — in biathlon, freestyle, hockey — were suspended from most competitions. Only in December did freestylers achieve a return to world sports, but only Hanna Huskova earned an Olympic license.
At the last Olympics, Belarusians won two silver medals: Hanna Huskova in freestyle and Anton Smolski in biathlon. This time, biathletes are not going to the Olympics.
The Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from February 6 to 21.
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