Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 18 January (BelTA) – There are plans to announce the country-host of the third edition of the European Games at the end of 2018, EOC President Janez Kocijancic said at a European Olympic Committees (EOC) Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, BelTA learned from the press service of the Second European Games Directorate.

The Minsk European Games will be held as planned, Janez Kocijancic said. “Each country is different and it is important to have an adaptable model that will encourage countries of all sizes to tender for the Games in the years to come,” he said. “I would like to congratulate the Minsk 2019 European Games Coordination Commission and the Minsk 2019 European Games Organizing Committee (MEGOC) for their continued hard work and efficiency. It is normal to encounter problems when you are organizing events on this scale, but the devotion of everyone involved enables us to quickly overcome any problems we may face,” the EOC head noted.

The EOC president noted that the General Assembly will announce the host of the third edition of the European Games at the end of this year.

The EOC Executive Committee meeting, which was attended by Belarus NOC First Vice President Andrei Astashevich and director of the fund “Directorate of the Second European Games 2019” George Katulin, paid special attention to the status of preparations for the Minsk 2019 European Games. George Katulin informed the meeting participants of the key moments in the preparations for the European Games, and the changes that took place after the previous meeting at the 46th EOC General Assembly in Zagreb in November 2017.

George Katulin also updated the members of the EOC Executive Committee on the cooperation agreements signed with Sport-pari (Belarus’ first lottery operator) and velcom. The telecommunication operator was given a status of the official communications operator of the Second European Games 2019. The talks on the domestic TV broadcaster of the Games are underway. Three foreign companies have expressed interest in broadcasting the 2019 Second European Games in Minsk. These are Medialuso-Mediapro (Portugal), ISB (Spain) and Match TV (Russia).

The IT operator will be named soon. The ticket operator has already been chosen. The corresponding contract is at the stage of coordination. Tickets will replace visas for foreign guests.

The PR campaign to promote the European Games in Belarus and abroad is in full swing. A number of international agencies and companies have voiced interest in media partnership with the organizing committee. In late March Minsk will host Doors Open Day for the national Olympic committees of the member states of the Second European Games 2019.