On the 2nd European Games Coordination Commission’s eve, more than 50 primary and secondary school students were invited to the headquarters of the Belarusian NOC to attend an Olympic lesson. The non-conventional class was held by four-time Olympic biathlon champion and European Games Star Ambassadors Darya Domracheva, together with Beijing 2008 canoeing champion Aliaksandr Bahdanovich, Sochi 2014 freestyle aerials champion Anton Kushnir and Belarus top race walker Nastassia Yatsevich.

After a tour around the NOC Belarus Olympic Museum, the pupils had the chance to meet their sport idols in the Hall of Fame. Darya Domracheva, Aliaksandr Bahdanovich, Anton Kushnir and Nastassia Yatsevich were glad to talk to the students in a casual and friendly atmosphere.

The Olympic Lesson had little in common with the classic 45-minute lesson at school. The young guests – aspiring champions in athletics, judo, sambo, basketball, skiing – asked their senior colleagues relevant questions on how the way they train and face the challenging competitions.

One of the students had a philosophical question for Anton Kushnir: how not to give up and benefit from defeat. Sochi Olympics 2014 triumphant answered that without loses there’s no victory. While Darya Domracheva reminded: “Whenever you feel exhausted, remember that your opponents feel the same. It’s important to get over yourself”.

In order to motivate the youngsters throughout the whole year, the National Olympic Committee handed out special Olympic-themed assignment books. The books contain relevant information about the Olympic Movement in Belarus and its champions. In addition, the NOC of Belarus prepared an infographic booklet showing the country’s brief Olympic history and milestones.

At the end of the Olympic Lesson, the guests were asked to complete an important home assignment – to collect good grades in the book and to share information about the event with their peers.