Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 30 August (BelTA) – Thirty-five first-aid posts will be deployed across the venues of the 2nd European Games in Minsk. The subcommittee on medical service and antidoping of the 2nd European Games had a session in the Belarusian State Medical University on 30 August, BelTA learned from the press service of the Healthcare Ministry.

The meeting, which was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Petrishenko, discussed the provision of medical care to the participants of the games. “Medical care will be provided in the venues of sporting events. We will deploy 16 first-aid posts for athletes and 19 for viewers, emergency vehicles,” the Healthcare Ministry said. If necessary medical help will be available in Dinamo Stadium during the opening and closing ceremonies, the Marriott and President hotels, the international broadcasting, sports gear and accreditation centers. Four fan zones will have ambulance brigades on duty. Moreover, more personnel will be employed by the medical stations at Minsk National Airport and minsk railway station.

“Emergency medical aid will be provided free of charge to athletes, coaches, support staff, judges, IOC executives, official representatives and invitees of the EOC, NOC, international and European sports federations, VIPs, accredited representatives of foreign media. The matter is about examination and treatment of acute illnesses and injuries, as well as the exacerbation of chronic diseases. Medical assistance to spectators, staff of facilities will be carried out in accordance with national legislation and international treaties,” the Healthcare Ministry said.

The deputy prime minister reported that Belarus plans to provide services in sports medicine, therapy, surgery, dentistry, emergency medicine, diagnosis (ultrasound and laboratory studies), ophthalmology, physiotherapy.

The Healthcare Ministry is monitoring the construction of a subsidiary of the 33rd students’ clinic. The clinic will become the main facility to provide medical care to athletes and team members during the 2nd European Games. Additionally, there will be two medical posts and two medical isolators (if necessary), the press service added.

Apart from the clinic, athletes will be sent for examination to the National Research Center of Sports and the Minsk Consulting Diagnostic Center.

The meeting participants also considered medical and anti-doping passports for official sports facilities. 12 doping units will operate during the 2nd European Games. Among those involved will be sport medicine teams, ambulance teams (about 50 daily) and physician teams of medical posts.

Volunteers with knowledge of English will be helping as well. More than 200 students have been trained at the Belarusian State Medical University.

Taking part in the meeting was also Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko, Deputy Minister, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Natalya Zhukova, Deputy Sport and Tourism Minister Alexander Baraulya, Minsk Vice Mayor Igor Yurkevich.

A ministerial working group on medical support for the 2nd European Games and also a subcommittee on medical and anti-doping support were set up in the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry in 2018. When compiling the plan of action, Belarusian specialists took into account the requirements of the European Olympic Committees, international and European sport federations, recommendations of international EOC experts.