Second European Games in Belarus

European Games torch aboard Gomselmash super harvester in Gomel

GOMEL, 6 June (BelTA) -  Gomselmash has welcomed the Flame of Peace torch relay of the 2nd European Games with an exhibition of the latest combine harvesters on 6 June, BelTA has learned.

The main symbol of the 2nd European Games was welcomed by Gomselmash Deputy Director Aleksandr Konopatsky. He expressed the hope that Team Belarus will harvest a lot of medals during the European Games. “For our part we will do our best to help Belarusian farmers harvest grain crops promptly and qualitatively,” he said.

Honorary torchbearer, Artistic Director of the Valery Abel Circus Tatyana Abel took the torch aboard Polesye GS2124, popularly called a super harvester, and to the assembly workshop of Gomselmash.

The relay then traveled to Belorusneft. In 2018 the company set a historical record by producing 1.670 million tonnes of oil.

At the administrative office in Gomel the torch was handed over to motor mechanic of the Rechitsa technological transport division at Belorusneft,  many-time winner of various cycling events Piotr Zhelezinsky.“ I am sure that the Minsk European Games will demonstrate that Belarus is a hospitable country in love with sport,” he said as he handed the torch over to his coworker, chief marketing expert Pavel Kevlich, the only representative of Gomel Oblast who covered the distance of the Ironman triathlon challenge in Poznan in 2017.

The Flame of Peace was also taken to the Gomel Oblast Children’s Hospital. After a large-scale renovation which finished in 2018, the hospital turned into a multi-discipline clinic featuring 15 departments, a diagnostic center and additional facilities.

The flame was carried by chief physician Vyacheslav Izhakovsky and MP, Secretary General of the Belarusian Red Cross Olga Mychko.

Young patients and their parents had a class with renowned canoeist, 2015 European Games champion, Belarus’ Honored Master of Sports Marina Litvinchuk. Children who were not able to participate in the outdoor activities received souvenirs with the symbols of the games in their rooms.

Lesik the Fox wished the children speedy recovery and asked them to support Belarusian athletes at the upcoming games.

Gomel Oblast is organizing a lot of interesting events along the route of the Flame of Peace torch relay. The relay will pass through the main landmarks and cities of Gomel Oblast, for example, the city of steelworks Zhlobin, nature treasury trove Pripyatsky National Park, ancient Turov, and the city of Mozyr. Then the Flame of Peace will move on to Minsk Oblast.

The Flame of the 2nd European Games was lit in Rome on 3 May. Then, Belarusian climbers took the torch to the summit of Mont Blanc. In Europe, the Flame of Peace traveled through Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The torch relay will complete at the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Games at the Dinamo Stadium on 21 June.

The 2nd European Games will take place in Minsk on 21-30 June. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 200 medal events in 15 sports.

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