MINSK, 7 September (BelTA) – 2016 Rio Olympic silver medalist Ivan Tikhon (hammer throwing) plans to take part in the Second European Games 2019. The athlete told the news to the media during the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus on 7 September, BelTA has learned.
“I want to take part at the European Games in Minsk. I hold regular training sessions. I watched the leading hammer throwers at the world forum in London. I can say with confidence that the results demonstrated at the start of the 2017 season can be surpassed. I will continue training. The European Athletics Championships 2018 will take place in Berlin on 7-12 August. It will be a good rehearsal ahead of the European Games in Minsk,” Ivan Tikhon said.
The athlete expressed confidence that the necessary infrastructure would be ready before the start of the Second European Games in Minsk. “Belarus has already hosted a lot of big sport events. The country has gained the corresponding experience. I am confident that all the facilities will be commissioned in time. I hope that the deadline for the construction of Dinamo Stadium [June 2018] will not be changed,” he said.
The Belarusian Athletics Federation plans to hold a sport meeting at the stadium next year.
Athletics is among 15 sports that will make up the European Games program in Minsk.
At today's meeting of the Olympic committee Belarus President and Head of the National Olympic Committee Alexander Lukashenko expressed concerns about the poor performance of the Belarusian athletes at the recent world athletics, rhythmic gymnastics and judo championships. Belarus won only one medal at the abovementioned tournaments – silver by Yekaterina Galkina.
The National Olympic Committee of Belarus discussed the preparations for the Second European Games. The opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at Dinamo Stadium on 21 June 2019.
