Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 21 September (BelTA) – The European Judo Championships will be included into the program of the 2019 European Games, BelTA learned from President of the European Judo Union (EJU) Sergei Soloveichik.

Every year the Belarusian capital hosts two big judo events: the European Open and the international training camp (Randori), which gathered more than 800 participants in the Staiki Olympic center last time.

“Minsk is well-known to judokas from different countries. The Belarusian capital has already hosted a lot of international tournaments. When the news about the Second European Games was announced, the European Judo Union asked head of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijancic to allocate the best venue in Minsk. We were offered Chizhovka Arena. It is one of the best sport centers in Belarus and abroad. We are fully satisfied with the conditions in which the tournament will take place. In 2019 Minsk will welcome judokas from 45-48 countries,” Sergei Soloveichik stressed. He added that the points earned at the 2019 European Games will be added to the athletes’ ratings.

The Second European Games are scheduled for 21-30 June 2019 in Minsk. Competitions in badminton, boxing, cycling, canoe and kayak, judo, karate, athletics, archery, shooting, table tennis will be qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The Games will feature 15 sports. Minsk Arena will be the venue of artistic and rhythmic gymnastics events, acrobatics and trampoline tournaments. Track cycling and badminton tournaments will be held at the Minsk Arena velodrome. The European Games program also includes road cycling events (along the roads of Minsk). Chizhovka Arena will host wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman, women’s) and sambo competitions. Boxers will compete for medals at the Uruchye Sports Center. The Minsk Palace of Sports will host karate and judo tournaments while Palova Arena near the Minsk Palace of Sports will be the venue for the 3x3 basketball competitions. The beach soccer and beach volleyball tournaments will be held at the Olympiysky Stadium. The kayak and canoe competitions will take place at the rowing canal in Zaslavl. The Sporting Club will host the shooting tournament. Archers will compete at the stadium of FC Minsk. Falcon Club will be the venue for the table tennis tournament.

Belarus was chosen to host the Second European Games in 2019 after a vote at the 45th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk in October 2016. The official motto of the Second European Games will be Bright Year, Bright You. The mascot for the Second European Games will be chosen later.