Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 13 April (BelTA) – Belarus demonstrates a high degree of readiness to host the 2019 European Games, First Deputy Head of the Belarus President’s Administration, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee Maksim Ryzhenkov said during the open dialogue “Volunteer is the Soul of Sport” at the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 13 April, BelTA has learned.

“The sports infrastructure necessary to host the 2019 European Games is almost ready. The head of state has taken all necessary decisions to complete the construction or reconstruction of sports facilities. We have enough hotels to accommodate the guests. A village for athletes is ready. Among the matters that leave to be addressed are some technical issues to provide high-quality broadcasting and security issues. We can say that Belarus demonstrates almost absolute readiness for the 2019 European Games,” Maksim Ryzhenkov said.

In his words, medal events will be held in fifteen sports during the Second European Games. The final program will be approved in the near future. The European Olympic Committees Coordination Commission for the second edition of the European Games is set to pay an inspection visit to Belarus in May 2017.

The open dialogue “Volunteer is the Soul of Sport” was held at the Hall of the Olympic Glory at the National Olympic Committee to discuss the preparation of the Belarusian team of volunteers for the Second European Games 2019 in Belarus.

Taking part in the discussions were more than 100 people, including Belarus’ Education Minister Igor Karpenko, Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the BRSM Youth Union, representatives of the BRSM Youth Union volunteering movement Good Heart, volunteers who worked at the European and world championships that were held in Belarus in 2014-2016, and also the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.