Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 6 September (BelTA) – Belarus will start a one-year countdown clock to the European Games 2019 at the renovated Dinamo Stadium on 21 June 2018, Minsk Mayor Andrei Shorets told the media, BelTA has learned.

According to Andrei Shorets, the stadium reconstruction project is somewhat behind schedule due to some issues in the construction of a canopy of steel structures. “A year before the start of the Second European Games, on 21 June, we will launch the countdown clock at the renovated Dinamo Stadium,” Andrei Shorets said.

The Belarusian prime minister inspected the progress in the construction of the facilities to be used during the Second European Games. He instructed to complete all the projects in time.

After the reconstruction, the capacity of Dinamo Stadium will be about 20,000. In 2019 the stadium will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the Second European Games, competitions in various sports. After the reconstruction, the stadium will become a multifunctional facility.

Minsk and the Executive Committee of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) signed a contract on holding the Second European Games in 2019 on 1 September. The competition program will include 15 sports; badminton, basketball, boxing, wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women's), cycling (track and road), gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, acrobatics, aerobics, trampoline tumbling), canoeing and kayaking, judo, karate, athletics, sambo, archery, shooting sports, table tennis, and beach soccer. 189 medals events will be held in 23 sport disciplines.

Belarus was chosen to host the Second European Games in 2019 at the 45th session of the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk in October 2016. The Belarusian capital is expected to welcome over 4,000 athletes who will take part in competitions and other events.

The First European Games were held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 12-28 June 2015. Belarus placed 7th with a total of 43 medals: 10 gold, 11 silver and 22 bronze ones.