Second European Games in Belarus
2nd European Games flame lit in Dinamo Stadium in Minsk
MINSK, 22 June (BelTA) – Flame of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 has been lit in the Dinamo Stadium, BelTA has learned.
The torch was brought to the stadium by Belarusian Olympic champions – Darya Domracheva, Aliaksei Grishin, Max Mirnyi, Yuliya Nestsiarenka, Raman Petrushenka, Nadezhda Skardino, and Dzmitry Dauhalionak, who lit the flame of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019.
The Flame of Peace relay race was launched in Rome on 3 May. Over the course of 50 days the torch travelled for over 7,000km on its way to Minsk. The flame was taken to the highest peak in Europe – Mont Blanc. The Flame of Peace went through Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, and Poland. The flame travelled all over the country in Belarus.
The relay race has been in Minsk since 17 June. Since then the flame has been taken to the most important places in the Belarusian capital city: State Flag Square, Pobedy Square, and Oktyabrskaya Square, the largest enterprises of the city, and the National Library of Belarus.
The cup with the flame of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 in the Dinamo Stadium is officially called the Fern Flower Cauldron. It is an updated version of the cup used during the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The new cauldron is embellished with a pattern alluding to the fern flower. It is symbolical that the outstanding Belarusian wrestler Alexander Medved has taken part in the flame relay race in 1980 and in the European Games opening ceremony.
According to the organizers, 300 tonnes of equipment, 150 tonnes of lighting apparatus, and 6 tonnes of sound equipment were used during the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019. It took 26 days to install the equipment and the scenery while dismantling it will take only 12 hours. A track and field athletics competition is supposed to take place in the stadium on 23 June.
The 2nd European Games are taking place in Minsk on 21-30 June. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 200 medal events in 15 sports. The Belarusian team includes 221 athletes.
Minsk was granted the right to host the 2nd European Games at the 45th meeting of the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in October 2016.
The 1st European Games took place in Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku in 2015. Back then Belarus was represented by 151 athletes in 24 sports. As many as 48 Belarusian athletes became prize winners. They won 43 medals, including 10 gold ones, 11 silver ones, and 22 bronze ones.
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