Closing ceremony of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019

The closing ceremony of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 was held in the Dinamo Stadium on 30 June. The large-scale sport festival, which took place in 12 arenas, lasted for ten days, and gathered athletes from 50 European countries, has come to an end. As many as 200 sets of medals were awarded in 15 sports during the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019, which took place on 21-30 June. The Russian team won the medal tally by taking 109 medals, including 44 gold ones. Belarusian athletes (221 participants) demonstrated one of the best results in the history of participation in major sport events – 69 medals, including 24 gold ones.

The show that took place in the Dinamo Stadium on 30 June was a logical continuation of the opening ceremony. The organizers surprised spectators with a grandiose performance that relied on cutting-edge technical solutions and IT solutions. A composition of the National Library of Belarus has been placed in the center of the stadium. The most vivid episodes of the games will be projected onto it.

The closing ceremony began with thenational anthem of Belarus. A parade of flags and athletes and the honoring of 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 volunteers took place in the arena. Participants of the games walked a lap of honor in front of the stands and went to stand next to the volunteers in the center of the arena. For the duration of the closing ceremony the platform in the center of the stadium became a dance floor. The Belarusian music band Aura performed the song Bright Year, Bright You! The two-time champion of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 Maryna Litvinchuk carried Belarus’ flag into the Dinamo Stadium.

Some part of the closing ceremony was dedicated to honoring the volunteers. It was accompanied by the special tune We Are the Light performed by the former member of the music band Iron Maiden Tony Moore and the young Belarusian singer Kristina Svetlichnaya. Fireworks were lit in the Dinamo Stadium in honor of the 8,000 volunteers, who helped host the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019.

Fans have fond memories of the European bison as one of Belarus’ symbols appearing during the opening ceremony. It was time for the bison to reappear again as part of the new setting dedicated to modern Belarus. The bison was supposed to wish luck to the new generation of Belarusians. The games’ mascot Lesik the Fox stood next to a small kid as a symbol of the young generation of Belarusians listening to the bison’s speech.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has thanked everyone, who has helped organize and host the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019, everyone, who has made a contribution to the history of these games. The head of state thanked the organizers for impeccable preparations for the games and hard work during the actual course of the competitions and solemn events.

“It is a feast of bright unforgettable impressions and strong emotions. We had everything – joy, happiness, and disappointment. This is what sport is all about. It is a celebration of friendship and unity, hot competitions, which united millions of residents of Europe into one big family. But first of all it was a gift to Belarusians as a testimony of our capabilities and our ability to move mountains. But only when we are together,” the Belarusian leader said.

Many dignitaries watched the closing ceremony from the VIP box together with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The number included President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Armenia President Armen Sarkissian, and President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach.

The final song of the closing ceremony Time to Say Goodbye was performed by the Belarusian opera singer Oksana Volkova and the Russian singer Nikolai Baskov.

The torch was doused while the song Da Novykh Sustrech [Till Later Meetings] was performed by the Belarusian singer Yulia Bykova.