Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 20 September (BelTA) – The Coordination Commission of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) for the Second European Games 2019 is paying the first official visit to Minsk, BelTA learned from the National Olympic Committee.

The National Olympic Committee of Belarus has already hosted working meetings. The visit will last through 23 September. The EOC Coordination Commission is led by Chairman of the Greek National Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos. On 21 September the National Olympic Committee will host a joint meeting of the EOC Coordination Commission with representatives of the national organizing committee and the Directorate of the 2019 European Games fund. Taking part in the event on Belarus’ behalf is Sport and Tourism Minister, Deputy Chairman of the National Organizing Committee, member of the Board of the Directorate Alexander Shamko, Minsk Mayor, Chairman of the Board of the Directorate Andrei Shorets, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, member of the Board of the Directorate Andrei Astashevich, Director of the Directorate of the 2019 European Games fund, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee Georgy Katulin. The program will also include visits to Minsk Arena and Falcon Club that will be used during the 2019 European Games.

The EOC Coordination Commission paid an inspection visit to Belarus in May 2017. The inspection covered the Student Village, Dinamo Stadium, Palace of Sports, Palova Arena, and Football Arena, where the press center of the 2019 European Games will be located.

Taking part in the ongoing visit are more than 40 members of the EOC Coordination Commission from more than 20 countries. Among them is Acting President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Janez Kocijancic, member of the Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine Sergei Bubka, President of the National Olympic Committee of Spain Alejandro Blanco, Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Turkey Hasan Arat, and President of the European Judo Union Sergei Soloveichik.

The Second European Games in Minsk will be held on 21-30 June 2019. The competition program will include 15 sports; badminton, basketball, boxing, wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's), cycling (track and road), gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, acrobatics, aerobics, trampoline tumbling), canoeing and kayaking, judo, karate, athletics, sambo, archery, shooting sports, table tennis, and beach soccer. 189 medals events will be held in 23 sport disciplines.