Minsk 2019 European Games Progress with Agenda 2020 in Mind

The European Olympic Committees (EOC) held their second Executive Committee (EC) Meeting of the year in Macedonia today, where the highlight was a positive update on the progress of the 2019 Minsk European Games, which guarantees to be Agenda 2020 compliant.

The meeting, chaired by Acting President Janez Kocijančič, received feedback from EC member Spyros Capralos, who led a working group visit to Minsk last week. Capralos ensured that preparations are on track in the Belarusian capital, and that the Games will deliver a more compact and more sustainable model, with fewer sports and fewer athletes than the inaugural edition of the Games in Baku in 2015.

The Games will be compliant with Agenda 2020 in the following ways:

· More compact – 11 days compared to 17 days at Baku 2015

· Fewer sports – 16 sports compared to 20 at Baku 2015

· Fewer athletes – expected to be approximately 4000 athletes and 2000 officials

· The use of an existing university campus for the Athletes’ Village

One notable addition to the Minsk 2019 Programme will be the launch of the new European Athletics initiative "Athletics 2020", which will provide a shorter product aimed at engaging the youth market.

Commenting on the progress of Minsk 2019 after the EC Meeting, Acting EOC President Janez Kocijančič said:

"The preparations for Minsk 2019 are very much on track, but we need to continue to work hard to ensure we deliver the exceptional product we believe the European Games can be. It is very important to the EOC that the Games reflect the recommendations laid out in Agenda 2020 and we believe the 2019 Games in Minsk will provide an excellent blueprint for years to come. Today’s meeting was very productive and I have complete confidence that the preparations will continue to move in the right direction."

During the EC Meeting, members also voted to host the next European Athletes Forum and Assembly in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The event is to be held in October and will include an elective assembly that will see the baton passed to a new commission, which will continue to foster the role of athletes in Europe and work to influence EU policy in favour of the Olympic Movement.

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