The Way to Future. Union State Cycle Race Started

The third Union State cycle race “Youth of Belarus and Russia – the Way to Future of the Union State” started in Smolensk on May 1st, 2008. This time it is dedicated to the 63rd anniversary of Victory gained in the Great Patriotic War as well as to the 12th anniversary of the Unity Day of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

The third Union State cycle race “Youth of Belarus and Russia – the Way to Future of the Union State” started in Smolensk on May 1^st, 2008. This time it is dedicated to the 63^rd anniversary of Victory gained in the Great Patriotic War as well as to the 12^th anniversary of the Unity Day of the Peoples of Belarus and Russia.

The initiators of such an action were young parliamentarians of Smolensk region. Their initiative was supported by the Union State Parliamentary Assembly, Standing Committee of the Union State as well as by Smolensk region Administration.

“This original action came into being in Smolensk – a hero city, which has the most stretched borders with the Republic of Belarus. Therefore, we should make a creditable showing since it is important for the image of our city as well,” S.Antufiev, Governor of Smolensk region, is quoted by the press service of the Union State Parliamentary Assembly.

In their turn, members of the Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Legislation and Regulation backed up the idea of cycle race financing at the expense of the Union State budget.

Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sport of the Russian Federation are in charge of cycle race preparations and holding.

The participants will follow the route Rudnya – Demidov – Velizh – Vitebsk region – mogilev region – Mstislavl – Khislavichi.

Bicyclists will meet the activists of veteran and youth movement and lay flowers to war memorials.

In Rudnya the sportsmen will be able to attend the opening of the international football tournament which will gather teams from Belarus, Russia and Lithuania.

In each town the participants of the cycle race will be welcomed with a concert. Groups from Belarus as well as creative youth from Smolensk region will be performing at these concerts. A round-table conference on pressing problems of the youth and a volleyball match will be held in Vitebsk with the participation of executive and legislative authorities.

The marathon will come to an end on May 11^th, 2008 when sportsmen will arrive at Khislavichi. All participants of the cycle race will be rewarded with souvenirs and certificates.