Press releases

13 Aug 2019

Team Europe to feature ten Belarusians at Match Europe v USA

MINSK, 13 August (BelTA) – Ten Belarusian athletes will make part of the European team at the Match Europe v USA which is due to take place at the Dinamo National Olympic Stadium on 9-10 September, President of the European Athletics Association Svein Arne Hansen told a press conference at the press center of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 13 August, BelTA has learned.

Svein Arne Hansen expressed confidence that the European team would comprise the best athletes at the historic match against the United States. He added that ten Belarusian athletes (two males and eight females) would make part of the team.

The Belarusian athletes were named by Chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation Vadim Devyatovsky. These will be high jumpers Maksim Nedasekau and Dzmitry Nabokau, javelin thrower Tatsiana Khaladovich, long jumper Nastassia Mironchyk-Ivanova, high jumper Karyna Taranda, hammer thrower Hanna Malyshchyk, pole vaulter Iryna Zhuk, sprinter Daryia Barysevich, shot putter Aliona Dubitskaya, and also Elvira Herman (100m Hurdles).

The European team will also comprise high jumper Mariya Lasitskene of Russia, sprinter Ramil Guliyev of Turkey, pole vaulters Piotr Lisek of Poland and Katerina Stefanidi of Greece (the 2016 Olympic champion).

The final composition of the European team will be announced within a week.

Europe vs USA match is due in Minsk, Dinamo Stadium, on 9-10 September. It is expected to feature some 350 athletes. The competitions will include hammer throw, javelin throw, discus throw, 100 meters, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, 200 meters, 400 meters, 400m hurdles, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 3,000 meters steeplechase, 4x100 meters relay, mixed relay (200-200-400-800 meters), shot put, triple jump, high jump, long jump, pole vault.

The money pot of the match is €818,000. The winner in each event will get €7,000, silver medalist - €5,000 and bronze medalist - €4,000. Those finishing seventh or eighth will get €500.

The match was suggested by President of the European Athletics Association Svein Arne Hansen. Such events have not been held since 1960-1970s when intercontinental duels such as USSR v USA were popular.