Athletes Aim for Tokyo During Minsk Games

(ATR) The second European Games will begin on Friday in Minsk, Belarus.

More than 4000 athletes will compete in 200 medal events in 15 sports, making it the largest sporting event in Europe.

Host country Belarus will have a contingent of 221 athletes whereas Belgium will send a total of 50 athletes to compete at the 2nd European Games in Minsk.

The Games are considered a stepping stone for the Olympic Games in Tokyo next year with 10 out of the 15 sports serving as Olympic qualifiers for Tokyo 2020.

During a press conference in Brussels this month, the head of team Belgium Gert Van Looy noted his country's solid performance in Baku during the inaugural European Games and hopes for the same performance this time around.

Van Looy also shared that while the European Games is a way for athletes in Olympic sports to build their way towards the Tokyo next year "Athletes competing in non-Olympic sports will be able to promote their sports."

This year will be the first time European martial arts will be included among the cultural program for the games. An exhibition, an invitational gala tournament, and two conferences will provide an insight on the history of European martial arts heritage and traditions that will be revived during the games.

Homepage Photo Credit: Getty Images

Written by Greer Wilson.

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