Minsk Arena velodrome, a venue of the European Games 2019

Preparations for the European Games 2019 are nearing completion. On 21-30 June, the large-scale forum in Minsk will gather more than 4,000 athletes from 50 countries. The best athletes of the continent will come to Minsk to compete in 199 medal events in 15 sports and to win the Olympic licenses for Tokyo 2022. Track cycling will be a new event on the program of the European Games. The velodrome of Minsk Arena, the country's largest sports complex, is gearing up to host the competition.

Minsk Arena, one of the main venues of the European Games 2019, has already hosted dozens of high-profile tournaments since 2009, including UCI Track Cycling World Cup that drew 260 cyclists from 35 countries. Belarusians Yauheni Karaliok, Ina Savenka, Tatsiana Sharakova, the prize winners of the European and world championships, are among the world’s top athletes today.

The track surface of the Minsk Arena velodrome, which can seat about 2,000 people, was upgraded last year. In June, 316 best cyclists will compete in 20 medal events. In the meantime, the 2019 winter sports season kicked off with Belarus’ winter championship and track cycling championships which gave us the names of 12 best athletes in the elite and junior circuits.

Before the European Games, the Belarusian national team will compete in UCI Track World Cups in New Zealand and Hong Kong, UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Pruszkow, Poland. Then, after a short rest and spring trainings, Belarusian athletes will gather again at the Minsk velodrome for test competitions to see the readiness and possible shortcomings. It will help the organizers of the European Games to take into account all the nuances and prepare at the highest level.

Belarusian racetrack stars, the first competition of 2019 and preparations for the European Games in our photo essay from Minsk Arena.