Belarusian fitness for life!

The little country of Belarus, located in Northeastern Europe, has some big ideas. Every year it stages its ‘fitness for life’ festival in Minsk, its capital. This is the opportunity for young Belarus gymnasts to entertain the audience with their newly acquired skills, including demonstrations of coordinated dancing and other team gymnastics activities. Because there is a long circus tradition in Belarus, circus tricks and astonishing gymnastic skills are displayed, using circus equipment to enthrall audiences.

The educational authorities place emphasis on physical fitness of the young by encouraging them to attend classes, where they learn the usual bending and stretching exercises for the purpose of taking part in team dancing, sports and gymnastics competitions. Gymnastic schools occasionally put on a show, which displays their talent and it is judged by a panel of experts. The participants gain medals and awards, which they then display proudly at home for their relatives to see and admire.

The authorities have built around the country several game halls where young people can play around by dropping, jumping and bouncing around on pits full of sponges, or on trampolines, climbing nets, or swinging on ropes, etc. The training gymnasiums and these places, of course encourage fitness in young people, which can remain with them for life. This is one of the fun-benefits from their Communist legacy.

Most of the participants in these displays of fitness activity are young girls and women, who recognize the importance of fitness for them, personally, for their lives – because keeping a good body shape, being strong and encouraging good blood circulation especially to the brain, can only bring great benefits throughout the rest of their lives.

It can be mentioned that these game halls are ideal places to spend those cold, dull and gray winter days of which Belarus has many. They also provide distractions away from waiting around the house or creating mischief in the locality, as young boys are liable to do.

Because using the circus equipment and performing on stage to a high standard requires a high degree of concentration, so the children must learn to concentrate to succeed. This improved concentration is a very valuable asset, which renders them capable, more competent human beings, also of great benefit to the society they live in.

Belarus is governed by President Lukashenko, who claims 80% of the vote, but critics say, more realistically he has around a 65% majority. There is a good reason for this popularity – he does what is best for the people of Belarus. Belarusians look at what has happened to Ukraine with horror. Fortunately, Lukashenko is able to keep NATO at arm’s length. Belarus is economically well integrated with Russia, and the quality of life of people is good. Wages are not high but the towns have many amenities and facilities. The shops are well stocked, modern and clean, and towns are well laid out, spacious and clean. Surrounding the towns are many wooded parks to walk in and people like this.

They are the proud custodians of the last herd of European Bison, a friendly but huge animal with a shaggy, wooly mane around its neck and shoulders. It has been adopted as their national mascot.

PRIYANTHA HETTIGE