Second European Games in Belarus

Flame of Peace relay of 2nd European Games reaches State Flag Square in Minsk

MINSK, 17 June (BelTA) – The Flame of Peace torch relay of the 2nd edition of the European Games reached State Flag Square in Minsk on 17 June, BelTA has learned.

Taking part in the final stage of the relay were four-time Olympic champion Darya Domracheva, Olympic canoe sprint champion Aleksandr Bogdanovich and track and field world champion Marina Arzamasova.

The famous athletes took the flame to State Flag Square where it was welcomed by about 2,000 people.

The torch of the 2nd European Games was handed over to Minsk Mayor Anatoly Sivak, Belarus National Olympic Committee
Acting First Vice President Viktor Lukashenko and Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk. The flame was lit in a special bowl in State Flag Square. After that, three-time Olympic freestyle wrestling champion Alexander Medved handed over the flame to the young generation of Belarusian athletes: sambo wrestler Stsiapan Papou, and track and field athletes Elvira Herman and Volha Mazuronak.

Addressing the audience and the athletes, the Minsk mayor noted that the Belarusian capital is happy to welcome visitors from all over Europe. “Minsk is receiving the main symbol of the forthcoming 2nd European Games – the Flame of Peace. It is a great honor and joy to welcome athletes and fans from all over Europe in the Belarusian capital,” Anatoly Sivak said.

A concert starring popular Belarusian singers took place in State Flag Square.

The Flame of Peace for the 2nd edition of the European Games was lit at the Ara Pacis Museum 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. In Belarus, the torch relay has already visited Brest Oblast, Grodno Oblast, Vitebsk Oblast, Mogilev Oblast, Gomel Oblast and Minsk Oblast.

The Flame of Peace torch relay will finish at Dinamo Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2nd European Games on 21 June.

Minsk will host the 2nd European Games on 21-30 June. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete for 200 medal sets in 15 sports.

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