Second European Games in Belarus

MINSK, 1 September (BelTA) – Belarusian athletes will be motivated to achieve excellent results during the 2019 European Games, BelTA learned from Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Alexander Shamko after the contract on hosting the 2019 European Games was signed with the European Olympic Committees on 1 September.

According to the official, the sport program is balanced and will stay on budget. Apart from about 4,000 participants there are plans to employ about 6,000 volunteers.

Alexander Shamko said: “We initially agreed with the European Olympic Committees that the 2019 European Games will feature the most popular kinds of sport, in which Belarus has a winning track record. The program also features less known acrobatics and aerobics, but these kinds have earned a good reputation during other major forums, this is why they will be represented in Minsk in 2019. The fact that licenses for the Tokyo Olympics will be awarded in Belarus will be an important factor for many athletes. The opportunity will be available for several kinds of sport during the Second European Games. It will make the games more interesting for fans while participants will be better motivated to achieve excellent results, including Belarusian athletes.”

The Second European Games will not feature water sports, in particular, swimming where medals are abundant. Alexander Shamko stressed that due to their busy schedules swimmers will be unable to come to Minsk in June 2019.

The Second European Games are scheduled for 21-30 June 2019. They will feature 15 sports: badminton, 3x3 basketball, boxing, wrestling(freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, women’s wrestling), cycling (track cycling and road bicycle racing), gymnastics (artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, acrobatics, aerobics, and trampoline), rowing (kayak and canoe competitions), judo, karate, track and field athletics, sambo, archery, shooting (including clay target shooting), table tennis, and beach football. As many as 189 medals will be awarded in 23 sport disciplines.

During the Second European Games competitions in badminton, boxing, cycling, canoe and kayak, judo, karate, athletics, archery, shooting, table tennis will be qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Belarus was granted the right to host the 2^nd European Games during the 45^th session of the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk in October 2016.

Bright Year, Bright You will be the official slogan of the Second European Games. An open contest is in progress in Belarus to design the mascot for the 2019 European Games. Anyone is welcome to compete.