The bare necessities: Men go shirtless in Minsk for race to mark Belarus national holiday

Men in Minsk in Belarus have once again proved their courage and recklessness by running bare chested to mark the Defender of the Fatherland Day. Yesterday’s Real Men Race celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the Belarus army. Participants from Belarus, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan overcame a distance of either 1km or 3.5km as part of the event. The race goes ahead despite the sleet, wind and freezing temperatures typical in Belarus in February. The main condition to enter the race is to run shirtless – to the great delight of many girls and women, both supporters and random passers-by.