Despite the festive occasion, the Head of State also spoke about the current situation. The first question was asked upon arrival at the arena: «When will we win?» The president was assured that in the near future. Not far from the entrance to the stadium is a sculptural composition of two football players. Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that it would be appropriate to place a monument to Chinese President Xi Jinping here. It was thanks to the agreements reached at the highest level between the leaders of China and Belarus that the construction of such a grandiose sports arena became possible. The Head of State was briefly informed about the implementation of the project and the stadium’s prospects. It is important that the facility was built in accordance with the requirements of international football organizations FIFA and UEFA and the procedure for obtaining the necessary accreditations has already been initiated. The surrounding area has also been put in order — the park of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution, and Traktor football stadium has been opened after reconstruction. As noted by the Minister of Sports and Tourism, Sergey Kovalchuk, one can only dream of such a stadium. After all, there are few such stadiums even in Europe.

The Chinese don’t say anything without reason

At the ceremony, Aleksandr Lukashenko delivered a heartfelt speech. «I have driven along our Partizansky Avenue many times, maybe dozens, maybe hundreds of times, and today it has become beautiful and cozy (it wasn’t always like that). Driving along this avenue, I always looked at this huge piece of our Minsk, this park. And then, as a member of parliament, becoming the President, I have been to this park more than once, in the area of our Traktor stadium. And then a crazy idea arose to build something solid here for this area, where strong people, workers, lived, and I am sure live, and for our Minsk. — the Head of State told the background story. — And over time, maybe after 5-7 years, I firmly decided, having heard your criticism that we supposedly devote ourselves too much to hockey, and build for hockey and so on. «You remember, before the World Championship (2014 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship — ed.) we had to build. I think: for our profession, for the youth (and my profession is not hockey, but football), we need to build a national stadium. Well, someday our team will show its class and play the way it should.»

Aleksandr Lukashenko said that after the decision to build a football stadium here was made, during talks in Beijing with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a conversation on this topic came up. «And he said so in Chinese, and the Chinese are very calm, balanced people, at the end of the time I shared my thoughts with him, he said: „We will think about it“. I didn’t ask him then,» he said. After the subsequent negotiations, according to the Belarusian leader, Xi Jinping presented models of the national football stadium and an international-level swimming pool — gifts to the Belarusian people from China. «I didn’t believe it right away, knowing China and the Chinese well, I didn’t believe it. And then I thought: the Chinese don’t say anything without reason, especially in the first person. That’s how it all started. They built it relatively quickly. You saw the international-level swimming pool — it’s a gift from the Chinese people, there’s no Belarusian money there,» the President said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that this greatest monument was opened only thanks to his friend, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. 

This is the greatest event for our country

«And today we are opening this grandiose structure. For our country, for Belarus, this is the greatest event. This magnificent arena, as well as the new international-level swimming pool, were designed and built by our friends from the People’s Republic of China. I would like to once again officially thank the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, as well as all the Chinese partners, builders. I would like to thank you for the construction of the largest and most modern football stadium in the country, which combines national traditions and advanced engineering solutions,» Aleksandr Lukashenko noted. He also thanked the football players who came to the match from the People’s Republic of China. The Head of State assured that the Belarusian side will do everything to ensure that the guests enjoy their stay here. 

«I am convinced that this stadium will become another famous image of our Minsk Hero City and a symbol of strong Belarusian-Chinese friendship. This sports facility meets the highest world standards. I hope that in the near future, along with friendly games and national championship matches, we will be able to host official international matches here and enjoy the performances of the best football players in the world,» the Belarusian leader noted.

The President emphasized that Minsk residents have improved the adjacent park of the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution and updated the infrastructure of Traktor stadium. But, according to him, this is not the end. The Head of State emphasized that a lot of work needs to be done to make this stadium drown in greenery and flowers. This task has already been set for the city administration. «So that this green corner of the capital literally in five years turns into a modern sports quarter for fans of active recreation,» the President specified.

Football erases borders between countries

«Sport is rightly considered an ambassador of peace. Football is the most popular mass national game, it erases the borders between countries, brings together different people, unites both those who play and those who cheer for them — all of us. I hope that the level of play of our clubs and especially the national teams will correspond to the conditions created for them,» the Head of State emphasized. He separately addressed young football players: «You are young, you have to play, you have to defend the honor of your native land. And Belarusian football players, having received such a gift, will finally begin to justify our expectations, and we will see from these stands the bright victories of our favorite teams.» 

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Belarusians know how to play football. He noted that our men’s beach soccer team brilliantly demonstrated how to defeat the strongest opponents at the recent World Cup. 

«I congratulate everyone on the opening of this magnificent structure, this stadium. I wish you good health, perseverance, and patience on the path to great sporting achievements for the benefit of our Motherland,» the President concluded.

We have written a common chapter of Belarusian-Chinese friendship

Vice President of the Olympic Committee of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Jiasheng emphasized that thanks to the two leaders — Xi Jinping and Aleksandr Lukashenko, the relations between Belarus and China have reached the highest level of all-round and comprehensive strategic partnership. He drew attention to the recent successful visit of Aleksandr Lukashenko to China, during which the leaders agreed to further intensify Belarusian-Chinese relations, and a solid foundation for sustainable and long-term cooperation was created. «The opening of the football stadium is not only a significant project of technical and financial cooperation, but also a vivid example of political trust and deep friendship between our peoples. Thanks to the binding force of sport, we have written a new common chapter in the history of Belarusian-Chinese friendship,» he said. Zhang Jiasheng thanked the builders of the two countries who worked on the implementation of the project. «I am confident that the stadium will become a platform for inspiring young people and a new step towards strengthening humanitarian cooperation between China and Belarus. Let sport bring us closer. And our partnership leads to a common future,» he noted. 

Zhang Jiasheng handed over the symbolic key to the sports facility to the President of Belarus. And he, in turn, handed it over to the athletes. They thanked him for such a wonderful gift, support for sports and assured that they would do everything possible to glorify their native country with their victories. «Thank you. We will wait, we hope that you will never disappoint in this wonderful arena. And not only in this one,» the President replied. 

The history of the national football stadium began with a friendly match between the Belarusian U-21 and Chinese U-22 football teams. The Head of State also watched the game. 

Valeria Stetsko

Photo: Viktor Ivanchikov and BelTA