Minsk marks World Bicycle Day

The opening ceremony was attended by Rector of the Belarusian State University of Physical Education Sergei Repkin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Belarus Nazarguly Shagulyev, Olympic champion in cycling Vladimir Kaminsky, Director of the National Olympic Cycling Training Center Dmitry Tolkachev.

“Cycling has been steadily developing in our country. More bicycle lanes are built, more people choose a bike to travel around the city. It is great that the bicycle has such a holiday that brings together representatives of different countries and nations,” Sergei Repkin said. The rector of the university expressed hope that next year the events dedicated to World Bicycle Day would be held on a larger scale in Belarus.

Nazarguly Shagulyev thanked the Belarusian side for participation in the bicycle race, as well as for the attention paid in the country to the cycling movement and professional cycling, including the training of specialists for Turkmenistan. “It is not by chance that a bicycle was awarded a special holiday by the UN. It is an accessible, eco-friendly means of transport. It is chosen by those who care about the environment as well as their own health. This holiday is widely celebrated in Turkmenistan. Thousands of citizens led by the country's leadership took part in the cycling race. I am sure this initiative will develop further,” he said.

Dmitry Tolkachev talked about the work that has been done to develop modern bicycle infrastructure in the country. “The bicycle lanes that we have in our cities attract many amateurs both on weekdays and weekends. Excellent conditions have also been created for professional cyclists. The main achievement is the velodrome at Minsk-Arena. It has already grown a whole galaxy of great riders who win at major international competitions, including the world championships,” he stressed.

World Bicycle Day has been celebrated worldwide since April 2018. A resolution to establish a new holiday was adopted at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the initiative of Turkmenistan. The document was co-sponsored by representatives of 56 states. The bicycle race was joined by members of the Belarusian national cycling team, and also students and teachers of the Belarusian State University of Physical Education.