Belarus ready to host 2019 European Games - Lukashenka
Belarus is ready to host the 2019 European Games, President Aliksandr Lukashenka said on October 21 when meeting with the Acting President of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kacijancic.
“Belarus is a not a superpower, but we are paying a lot of attention to sport," the president's press office quotes Lukashenka as saying. "I want very much our European organization to be as good as the organizations on other continents, including the International Olympic Committee. In this regard I am a nationalist and a patriot. Therefore, you can count on Belarus."
“If you wish to hold events of any kind here under the auspices of this organization, we are ready to support our organization at any moment and organize any events. We have made a historic decision, and will welcome European athletes for our Olympics in 2019," Lukashenka said.
The first European Games in 2015 took place in Baku, Azerbaijan at the inititive of the former EOC president Patrick Hickey. Last August Hickey was arrested on charges of illegal transfer of Rio Olympics tickets to dealers for further resale at higher prices.
Today, Minsk is hosting the 45th session of the General Assembly of European Olympic Committees.
