16 January 2025, 19:52

Eismont: European reporters were interested not only in sport during the 2nd European Games

Natalya Eismont

MINSK, 16 January (BelTA) – European reporters, who covered the 2nd European Games in Minsk, were interested not only in sport. The Belarus President’s Press Secretary Natalya Eismont made the statement in the latest episode of the documentary series Time Chose Us aired by the TV channel Belarus One, BelTA has learned.

The 2nd European Games were the key sport event of the year 2019. The games successfully took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities in late June.

Natalya Eismont said: “The 2nd European Games, which took place in Belarus in 2019, represent a very bright sport page not only of the year 2019 but also of Belarus’ entire sport history. Minsk was gearing up for the games. The entire country was gearing up for the games. Naturally, the president kept an eye on all the most important processes. And he gave instructions to make it a truly serious celebration. These approaches may seem simple but we are so accustomed to them.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko’s press secretary noted that attempts were made to politicize these processes. Particularly during the preparations. “I remember very well that during a presentation of the European Games European reporters were interested not only in sport details as usual. Naturally, [they were interested in] politics. Unfortunately, politics and sport are inseparable now. Even European sport officials demonstrated a rather positive mood. But reporters wondered how the European Games were taking place in the world’s not most democratic country. They wondered whether the European sport officials were embarrassed by the fact,” she stressed.

Nevertheless, Natalya Eismont added that the European sport officials had demonstrated resilience and had said that it is necessary to discover Belarus for oneself. They also said that Belarus was underappreciated. “Such statements were also made. Results of the event demonstrated the impeccable organization of the games. These are not our evaluations. These are evaluations of those, who came here. Those European sport officials were right. They came and praised our sport celebration,” the press secretary of the Belarusian leader concluded.