Second European Games in Belarus

The matter was discussed during a working meeting on the organization of the European Games 2019 in the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 12 May. Attending the meeting apart from members of the EOC Coordination Commission were NOC First Vice President Andrei Astashevich and Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko.

Zlatko Matesa praised the availability of necessary infrastructure to host large-scale sport events and a great deal of understanding from Belarus. “We are doing one thing and we are on the same page with Belarusians on many matters. Today we have discussed sports issues and, following Belarus’ initiative, we plan to include weightlifting into the program of the European Games. Archery can also make part of the European Games 2019. The total number of athletes at the forthcoming competitions should not exceed 4,000,” he said.

One of the key points in the agreement on the European Games is cost optimization. “With the proposal to include two more sports into the program we need to adjust our positions. In any way the number of athletes, as the EOC representative stated, should not exceed 4,000. We also discussed the basic structure and key figures in the European Games organizing committee,” Georgy Katulin, a counselor with the Belarusian National Olympic Committee, said. The final competition program will be announced after the signing of the agreement on the European Games.

Georgy Katulin also said that the 2019 European Games organizing committee is expected to visit Skopje, Macedonia in late May to attend the meeting of the EOC Executive Committee, after which an agreement on the Second European Games may be signed with the EOC.

Minsk hosted the EOC Coordination Commission for the second edition of the European Games on an inspection visit on 12 May. The commission took stock of the progress made in the preparations for the Second European Games. The EOC representatives got familiar with the Student Village in Dzerzhinskogo Avenue, Dinamo Stadium, and Football Arena that will host the European Games press center.