MINSK, 15 April (BelTA) – Belarusian athletes set ambitious goals for the 2nd European Games, Belarus’ Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk said after a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 15 April, BelTA has learned.
Speaking about the preparations for the major sports event of 2019, the 2nd European Games, the minister said that Belarusian athletes show good results in sports that make part of the forthcoming multi-sport forum. “We have conducted an analysis and I can say that in 2017 Belarus won a total of 51 medals in ten sports that will make part of the games. Fifty medals were won in 2018. Belarusian athletes set ambitious goals for the 2nd European Games,” Sergei Kovalchuk said.
Cooperation between sports federations was discussed at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee as well. The sports and tourism minister stressed that the work of these public organizations should be systemic and added that there is a need for an exchange of experience, including with the National Olympic Committee.
Minsk was granted the right to host the 2nd European Games at the meeting of the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees on 21 October 2016. The 2nd European Games will take place in Minsk on 21-30 June 2019. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 199 medal events in 15 sports.
An estimated 269 Belarusian athletes are training to take part in the 2nd European Games.
A number of sports of the Minsk European Games will serve as qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Belarus won ten gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze medals at the 1st European Games in Baku in 2015.