Opinions & Interviews
MEGOC wants 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 sport facilities ready by May
Photos courtesy of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 website
MINSK, 5 September (BelTA) – Sport facilities of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 should be fully ready for the competitions in May 2019. The statement was made by George Katulin, CEO of the Minsk European Games Organizing Committee (MEGOC), before a regular session of the 2nd European Games Coordination Commission of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) at premises of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 5 September, BelTA has learned.
The MEGOC CEO said that all the facilities of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 are supposed to be ready on 6 May 2019 for transition to the so-called prelaunch quarantine. Specialists should become ready by that time, too. Test tournaments have already been held at the venues where the games will take place. All in all, the test tournaments have received rather high marks. However, a list of conditions in need of improvement is compiled after each tournament.
George Katulin reminded that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko had met with President of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijancic the day before. The sides discussed preparations for the 2nd European Games. “We know where we should move. Properly implementing all the plans we have is what matters,” said George Katulin.
Spyros Capralos, Chairman of the EOC’s Coordination Commission for the 2nd European Games, pointed out it is necessary to make sure everything proceeds on schedule and provide consulting aid to the government of the host country, the organizing committee of the multisport forum with resolving emerging issues.
Spyros Capralos said: “Certainly, a great deal has been done already but a huge amount of work has yet to be done. Making fast and effective decisions is the main factor of success now. A large number of agencies and institutions are involved in organizing the games, this is why the end result depends on their coordinated actions. The organization of large-scale competitions like the 2nd European Games requires colossal investment. At this stage we should consider every aspect of the work and give certain recommendations and sketch out ways to improve the efforts.”
Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Petrishenko and President of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijancic welcomed participants of the coordination commission session. The Belarusian side was represented by Sports and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee Andrei Astashevich, Minsk Mayor and MEGOC Chairman of the Board Andrei Shorets, and other officials.
A number of presentations were arranged by people responsible for various MEGOC functional branches. Participants of the session are also supposed to visit sport venues and get familiar with progress in getting the venues ready for the games.
Two more test tournaments in anticipation of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 will take place this weekend. A 3x3 basketball competition will take place in the Palova Arena near the Sport Palace on 8 September. A badminton competition (Futures series) will take place in the Falcon Club on 6-9 September.
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