At the invitation of the Handball Federation of Belarus, IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa had the pleasure of attending the opening of the new Sports and Games Complex in Minsk September 14. 

Dr Moustafa was invited to cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the complex, along with Chairman of Minsk City Executive Committee Anatoli Sivak, 1st Deputy Head of the Belarus President Administration Maksim Ryzhenkov, Minister of Sport and Tourism Mr Sergey Kovalchuk, and President of the HFB Vladimir Konoplev.

The invitation was a reflection of the positive relationship with the HFB, after President Konoplev visited the IHF office in Basel in June last year in order to discuss the current situation with handball in Belarus as well as development opportunities for the future. 

On this occasion, Dr Moustafa was welcomed to Minsk by Mr Konoplev; Vice-President of National Olympic Committee, Rector of the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture and EHF referee Sergei Repkin; men’s national team head coach Iouri Chevtsov; former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ural Laupov; and interpreter Andrei Baletski. 

Alongside attending the grand opening of the Sports and Games Complex, Dr Moustafa’s visit included meetings with the Minister of Sport and Tourism Kovalchuk, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus and Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Handball Federation of Belarus Ivan Naskevich, and NOC Vice-President Repkin. Dr Moustafa also toured the Belarus NOC. 

The Sports and Games Complex

The new complex was built by the HFB with assistance from sponsors. The modern facility features handball courts, a fitness room, a weights room, a gymnasium and a sauna, and has a capacity of 250 spectators. 

The Sports and Games Complex will be used for a variety of purposes, including national training camps, children’s camps, club matches and tournaments.