2nd European Games Closing Ceremony
The 2nd European Games ended with a spectacular closing ceremony in Minsk on 30 June.
The Dinamo Stadium pitch was transformed into a huge dance floor to welcome volunteers and athletes. A 16-meter installation of the National Library of Belarus was placed in the center. It was used as screens to show the best moments of the Games, a mixture of emotions, and athletes from different countries who talked about their feelings related to the start of the competitions, their failures and victories, and gratitude to their coaches and fans.
Interesting fact! Maryna Litvinchuk, the two-time champion of the 2nd European Games, was the flag bearer of the Belarusian national team at the final parade of athletes.
The ceremony was attended by high-ranking guests, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Armenia President Armen Sarkissian and head of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.
The closing show at Dinamo Stadium was rich in the latest technology and IT solutions. The organizers surprised spectators with a grandiose performance that relied on cutting-edge technical solutions. The focus was made on honoring athletes and volunteers. The theatrical show Follow the Dream featured six episodes: Before the Start, Second Wind, Coach, Respect, New Challenge and Victory.
When the flag of the European Olympic Committees was lowered, a huge 12-meter tall mascot, Lesik the Fox, appeared on the pitch. The augmented reality technology showed the fern flower opening in the cauldron, and its seeds spreading throughout the stadium.
The final song of the closing ceremony, Time to Say Goodbye, was performed by Belarusian opera singer Oksana Volkova and Russian singer Nikolai Baskov.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko addressed the guests of the sport event. “We are closing the 2nd European Games. But we don’t say farewell. We say see you later instead. Later in Belarus at any time. You will always be welcomed here. Certainly, all of us will look forward to the next edition of the Games. May their history be long and glorious!” the head of state said.
“The games became a true feast of European and international sport. Together with our friends and organizers from Belarus we’ve arranged a bright multisport event, which scale is second only to the Olympic Games,” President of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijancic said.
The cauldron was doused while the song Da Novykh Sustrech [Till Later Meetings] was performed by Belarusian singer Yulia Bykova.
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