Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 27 November (BelTA) - Athletics is interesting to people of different ages in Belarus, President of the European Athletics Association (EAA) Svein Arne Hansen said as he met with Belarus Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk, BelTA learned from the press service of the ministry.

The parties discussed the preparations for the Europe-USA athletic match which will be held at Dinamo Stadium in Mink on 9-10 September 2019. It is expected to bring together the best athletes.

Svein Arne Hansen said that he is pleased with the development of athletics in Belarus. “I see that this sport is interesting to people of different ages in your country. Minsk Half Marathon produces the most favorable impression. Besides, you have a magnificent stadium which can host athletics competitions of the highest rank,” he said.

The Europe-USA athletic match will generate great attention among athletics fans and sport enthusiasts in general, Sergei Kovalchuk said. “By combining the efforts of government bodies and public organizations, we will hold the event at the highest level,” he added.

Such matches will be held every two years. “The United States will host the next meeting. I do not rule out that the strongest athletes of the United States and Europe will gather in Minsk again in 2023,” the head of the EAA said.

Chairman of the Belarusian Athletics Federation Vadim Devyatovsky expressed the hope that the Belarusians will receive the greatest possible representation. “However, the position of the European Athletics Association is tough: athletes must show appropriate results to participate in such competitions. The association intends to make matchrd of the continents a top-level tournament,” Vadim Devyatovsky noted.

The Europe-USA athletic match will feature four strongest athlete in each discipline (in accordance with the results shown during the season). Basically the event will feature running events from 100m up to 3000m.