MINSK, 20 August (BelTA) – Olympic Day celebrations will be held across 40 venues of the Olympic Sports Complex in Minsk on 24 August, Head of the Olympic movement development at Belarus’ National Olympic Committee (NOC) Dmitry Dovgalenok told reporters, BelTA has learned.
He noted that this is the first time Belarus will mark this event in August. The celebrations will feature 45 sports federations. The opening ceremony will be attended by senior officials of the National Olympic Committee, Sports and Tourism Ministry and Minsk City Council.
The festivities are expected to draw a lot of people. Visitors will be able to meet with Belarusian Olympians and other renowned athletes.
According to Dmitry Dovgalenok, visitors will get extensive information about Minsk-based sports facilities and consultations of representatives of sports clubs and schools.
Visitors will be invited to take part in the Olympic Quest contest where they will try their hand at various sports. They will need to collect stamps on their 20-challenge stamp card. For that they will receive a pedometer watch. They will also get a brochure about the results of the 2nd European Games.
Olympic Day is a celebration of the Olympic Movement and commemoration of the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894. At present Olympic Day is celebrated on 23 June every year by millions of people all over the world. The International Olympic Committee suggests that national Olympic committees choose the day for celebrating this event at their discretion. Taking into consideration the time-line of the 2nd European Games, Belarus decided to mark Olympic Day on 24 August from 11:00 to 18:00.