Charity and online sports: A1 and Belarus NOC launch an initiative in aid to children for fans of running, speed walking, cycling and swimming

This summer any Belarusian can contribute to a charitable activity just by doing favorite sports. On World Olympic Day 23 June A1 and National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus announced a launch of a large scale sports online event, i.e. charitable activity 100 hours with A1: Support TEAM BY! Running, speed walking, swimming and cycling – these are the four options anyone can select from while the outcome of the activity is a real aid to children.

The charity action will run for exactly 50 days: starting from 23 June through 11 August 2020. There is a challenge for every participant: over course of this period every participant must do 100 hours of any of the proposed physical disciplines. Upon hitting total target of 50 000 hours together all participants will facilitate a financial support from A1 at the amount of 50 000 BYN to the National Clinical Centre for Children’s Palliative Care.

XXXII Olympic Games planned for this year in Tokyo have been postponed to next summer due to pandemic that has disrupted not only the plans of Olympic sportsmen but also of their numerous fans. Support is crucial not only for the sportsmen of the national Olympic team – TEAM BY – ultimate starts have been shifted for a year. At the same time, many of their colleagues have already supported the said charitable initiative.

“Every year A1 organizes large scale activities in aid to children. Nevertheless, this time it's limited with online participation only, we are confident this is not a hurdle neither for good deeds nor for sports achievements. We are happy to offer a new format of sports charity that will unite active participants of former A1 running activities as well as fans and professionals in speed walking, swimming and cycling”, - commented Nikolai Yushkevich, A1 First Deputy General Director.

100 hours with A1 is a tool that tracks exercises and enables interaction with like-minded people via virtual platform 100.A1.by. The portal offers Belarusian and Russian versions. Over the course of the entire charity action all participants stay online and do sports on one-on-one basis. At the same time they are united by a common goal, i.e. charitable aid to children considering every hour of individual exercise will be counted by the platform and will contribute to overall result.

 

“Sport spirit and ambitions of Belarusian athletes remain strong despite the fact that this year Olympic plans of our team were disrupted by pandemic. It’s great that besides further preparation for future sports achievements our athletes have an opportunity to attract as many Belarusians as possible to sport and physical activities and inspire all participants of 100 Hours Together with A1 to make a big good and help the patients of the National Clinical Centre for Children’s Palliative Care”, - noted Polina Golovina, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

Members of the National Olympic team appeared to become ambassadors of 100 Hours Together with A1: Support TEAM BY!. These are 2019 European swimming champion Anastasia Shkurdai, 2019 World track cycling champion Evgeny Korolek, Silver medalist of European Cup 2019 in speed walking Dmitry Dyubin and 2018 European marathon champion Olga Mazurenok.

“Every Olympic participant is a true fan of own sports discipline. And it is of paramount importance to us with the help of the initiative 100 Hours Together with A1 to attract new fans to four major summer sports. At that, active fans in every sense of the word, those who do sports not only for own health but also in aid to others. It is pretty important to realize that through own ambitions we inspire people for good deeds”, emphasized Olga Mazurenok, well-known Belarusian Athlete and European Champion.

“Undoubtedly aid and support are very precious for us and our children. But what gains even higher value is that this activity raises awareness of importance and relevance of the work our experts dedicate their life to. We are confident that through charitable initiative 100 Hours Together with A1: Support TEAM BY! our round of friends will be extended with keen people, non-indifferent to other people’s pain and sincerely ready to help”, - replied Lyudmila Bomberova, director of the National Clinical Centre for Children’s Palliative Care.

The said initiative will be accompanied with online activities: exercises from experienced sportsmen, online challenges, streams of famous athletes. All results will be summarized in overall standings and in every discipline separately. Those participants that will demonstrate the highest number of hours will be awarded with medals while absolute winner with a special Cup. Participation and all details are available via 100.A1.by.