Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 29 November (BelTA) – Belarus’ experience in hosting large-scale international tournaments helps the country prepare for the 2019 European Games, President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Janez Kocijancic told BelTA during his visit to Minsk on 29 November.

When asked about Belarus’ advantages over other countries in holding international sports events, the EOC president emphasized the experience the country has accumulated to date. “Belarus has already hosted quite a few large-scale sports competitions: the 2014 IIHF World Championship, world cups and European championships in different sports,” he said.

Janez Kocijancic was elected EOC President at the 46th EOC General Assembly in Zagreb. He said he is glad with the status of preparations for the 2019 European Games in Minsk. “Today I met with Belarus President, President of the National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko, and Belarus’ Prime Minister, Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 2019 European Games Andrei Kobyakov. We discussed the status of preparations for the upcoming event. We touched upon all kinds of matters of problems, but I believe that the forthcoming Games will be held at the highest level. I have no doubts about that. We closely cooperate with Georgy Katulin, the head of the Directorate for the Second European Games, and NOC First Vice President Andrei Astashevich. We discussed TV rights, insurances, and international marketing. The ongoing preparations for the European Games are very active,” Janez Kocijancic added.

Belarus was chosen to host the Second European Games in 2019 at the 45th session of the EOC General Assembly in Minsk in October 2016. The Second European Games in Minsk will be taking place on 21-30 June 2019. The Games 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. 189 medals events will be held in 23 sport disciplines.