MOSCOW, 14 June (BelTA) - The level of competition 2nd European Games in Minsk will be of the highest level, First Vice Speaker of the State Duma of Russia, Honorary President of the Olympic Committee of Russia Alexander Zhukov told BelTA.
“The European Games is a very important tournament. At the first games held in Baku, many competitions were qualifying events for the Olympic Games offering Olympic licenses. Conceptions in many sports featured the strongest athletes from most European countries. Many competitions in Minsk will be qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, and therefore the level of competition must be high,” Alexander Zhukov said.
Alexander Zhukov has no doubts that Minsk will be an excellent host of the2nd European Games. “I am sure Belarus will hold the wonderful games, like all major competitions which it has hosted before,” Alexander Zhukov 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.
