OREANDA-NEWS. On January 17, 2009 President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited the Raubichi sports complex. The Head of State checked progress made in the refurbishment of the complex and got familiar with its further development plans, reported the Official website http://president.gov.by.

Andrei Astashevich, Director of the Raubichi complex, informed the Head of State on the progress made in fulfilling his instructions relating to the modernization of the sports complex. The President was shown a newly commissioned sports facility, which was a roofed ice rink. There are other projects in the pipeline, which are expected to be completed in the near future, for example, the construction of a new swimming-pool, tennis courts, several hotels and stadiums and modernization of a biathlon track.

Also there are plans to refurbish the Raubichi medical and recuperation centre.

Over \\$10 million will be allocated to materialize these plans. All the money will come from investors; no budget money will be spent.

Alexander Lukashenko said it was advisable to draw on the experience of private companies in designing and constructing sports facilities, which could play the role of pre-set models in enhancing sports base in small towns.

Following a tour of the new roofed ice rink, the Head of State participated in a practice ice hockey match as a member of the Belarusian President’s ice hockey team.