From February 4th to February 24th in National Library of Belarus (the circular passage on the third floor) is open a subject book exhibition “The world sport holiday” dedicated to the XXI Winter Olympic Games.
This year the White Olympics take place on February 12th-28th in Vancouver (Canada).
The Olympic Games are one of the most exciting inventions humanity ever made. For centuries, their amazing history has been inspiring poets, writers and scientists.
The Winter Olympics, though very popular all over the world, are not as old as the Olympiad. Thus figure skating events were first included in the Olympics in 1908 the IIV Olympiad in London. They were held together with the Summer Olympic Games.
In 1924 in Chamonix resort (France) took place the International Week of Sport timed to the VIII Olympiad. Later, this sport forum got regarded as the Winter Olympic Games. 258 sportsmen from 16 countries, including 13 women, participated in the event. The second Games (in Saint-Moritz, Switzerland, 1928) attracted 464 sportsmen from 25 countries. The Winter Olympic Games had become the integral part of the Olympic sports and were held regularly in Olympic years.
Today millions of viewers keep their eyes fixed on TV screens to enjoy the Winter Olympic Games: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, skating, skiing (Alpine skiing, Nordic combined, cross country skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding, freestyle), tobogganing and hockey.
In 1991, the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus was established. Nowadays it assists in the search and preparation of sport reserves for national teams of Belarus. The Committee promotes expansion and reinforcement of relations with international Olympic organizations. During the existence of the National Olympic Committee Belarusian sportsmen have participated in four Winter Olympic Games; three freestyles, two biathlonists and one skater won medals.
On the eve of the XXI Winter Olympic Games National Library of Belarus offers a book-illustrative exhibition dedicated to the international holiday of youth, beauty and physical perfection. About 200 publications are displayed at the exposition. Materials on the history of the White Olympics, the Olympic podium competition, world records and Olympic champions are presented to visitors’ attention.
The purpose of the exhibition is to reveal the Olympic movement as a social phenomenon that has its own peculiarities, issues and prospects.
Contact: (+375-17) 293-28-86.
Useful links:
The National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Belarus
The European Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee
The Ministry of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus
The Belarusian Union of Sportsmen
The representatives of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus
The history of the Olympic Games
The Olympiad and the Olympians
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