MOSCOW, 14 June (BelTA) - Belarus has everything what it takes to hold the 2nd European Games at the highest level, Russian two-time Olympic champion in gymnastics Svetlana Khorkina said in an interview with BelTA.
“You have everything what it takes to hold the event at the highest level. I am sure that Belarus will hold the European Games in style. At least I wish that to Belarusians,” the famous athlete said.
Svetlana Khorkina believes that the European Games is an excellent platform for communication. “Any large tournament is an opportunity to draw attention to sport. The more sports are represented the better. Europe is one of the biggest continents. Any competition is also an exam for athletes, an opportunity to polish their routines and better prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Plus this is an opportunity to discover new young talents,” she said.
Minsk will host the 2nd European Games on 21-30 June. Over 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 15 sports. Competitions in eight sports will be qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The Russian delegation will be one of the most representative and will take part in all sports included in the program of the 2nd European Games. Team Russia will comprise 225 athletes, including five Olympic champions: Abdulrashid Sadulayev and Natalia Vorobieva (wrestling), Aleksey Alipov (shooting), Anastasia Maksimova and Maria Tolkacheva (rhythmic gymnastics). Seven-time world champion in sambo, Baku European Games champion Artem Osipenko has been recommended for the role of flag bearer.
