MINSK, 30 June (BelTA) – The closing ceremony of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 took place in the Dinamo Stadium, BelTA has learned.
The large-scale sport festival, which took place in 12 arenas, lasted for ten days, and gathered athletes from 50 European countries, has come to an end. The stadium was filled with spectators, many of whom also took part in organizing and hosting the games.
A model of the National Library of Belarus was placed in the center of the stadium. The most vivid episodes of the games were projected onto it. The closing ceremony began with the national anthem of Belarus.
A parade of flags and athletes and the honoring of 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 volunteers took place in the arena. The Belarusian music band Aura performed the song Bright Year, Bright You!
Participants of the games walked a lap of honor in front of the stands and went to stand next to the volunteers in the center of the arena. For the duration of the closing ceremony the platform in the center of the stadium became a dance floor. The two-time champion of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 Maryna Litvinchuk carried Belarus' flag into the Dinamo Stadium.
Some part of the closing ceremony was dedicated to honoring the volunteers. It was accompanied by the special tune We Are the Light performed by the former member of the music band Iron Maiden Tony Moore and the young Belarusian singer Kristina Svetlichnaya.
Fireworks were lit in the Dinamo Stadium in honor of the 8,000 volunteers, who helped host the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019.
Fans have fond memories of the European bison as one of Belarus' symbols appearing during the opening ceremony. It was time for the bison to reappear again as part of the new setting dedicated to modern Belarus. The bison was supposed to wish luck to the new generation of Belarusians. The games' mascot Lesik the Fox stood next to a small kid as a symbol of the young generation of Belarusians listening to the bison's speech.
As many as 200 sets of medals were awarded in 15 sports during the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019, which took place on 21-30 June. The Russian team won the medal tally by taking 109 medals, including 44 gold ones. Belarusian athletes (221 participants) demonstrated one of the best results in the history of participation in major sport events – 69 medals, including 24 gold ones.
Belarusian fans will always remember victories of the canoeists Maryna Litvinchuk, Volha Khudzenka, and Artsem Kozyr, the track and field athletes Elvira Herman, Tatsiana Khaladovich, and Maksim Nedasekau, the uncompromising wrestlers Vasilisa Marzaliuk, Iryna Kurachkina, and Kiryl Hryshchanka.
The 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 were also an important cultural event for Belarus. An exhibition Kazimir Malevich and the 21st Century was an important part of the cultural program of the games and the large-scale project European Games – European Art. An exhibition of historic fencing European Martial Arts. From Vulcan's Forge to the Arts of Mars was opened in the Mikhail Savitsky Art Gallery. The world's largest private collection of unique Olympic artefacts was opened in the Old Minsk City Hall. A total of over 50 cultural events dedicated to the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019 took place.
