MINSK, 27 January (BelTA) - The European Olympic Committees (EOC) held its first meeting of 2017 with IOC President Thomas Bach in attendance. The meeting's key outcome was the appointment of Spyros Capralos as Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for the second edition of the European Games in 2019 in Minsk, Belarus, BelTA learned from the Belarus NOC press service.
President Bach gave an update on the IOC's latest activities, especially in the area of anti-doping, and answered questions from Executive Committee members. “President Bach provided a full update on all current key issues from across the Olympic Movement and, in response, the EOC Executive Committee expressed our unanimous support for the IOC's handling of the completed McLaren Report concerning doping in Russia. The IOC's approach on this matter – which was consistent with its approach towards Russia's participation in the Olympic Games in Rio – respects the rule of law in a fair and objective way and the EOC fully supports this,” EOC Acting President Janez Kocijancic said.
The Executive Committee received reports from Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, Treasurer Kikis Lazarides, and European Games Senior Consultant Pierce O'Callaghan.
Appointment of Spyros Capralos as Coordination Commission Chair for Minsk 2019 was then confirmed by unanimous approval from members. Spyros Capralos, the President of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, is taking on the same role he occupied from 2013-2015 for the inaugural European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan. “Spyros's chairing of the Baku 2015 Coordination Commission was very impressive and we are delighted that he is able to continue in this role for Minsk 2019. We are very excited that preparations for the second European Games are gathering speed in Minsk,” Janez Kocijancic said.
The first Coordination Commission visit to Minsk is expected in the spring. Acting President Kocijancic praised the Turkish Olympic Committee and the Erzurum 2017 Organizing Committee for their hard work in staging the event within two years.
