A site for a new beach soccer stadium has been selected in Minsk in order to host the sport at the 2019 European Games ©Belarus Football Federation

A site for a new beach soccer stadium has been selected in Minsk in order to host the sport at the 2019 European Games.

Belarus' state news agency BelTa reported that the venue would be located near the Olimpiysky Sport and Fitness Centre in the capital city.

Josep Ponset, the head of competitions at Beach Soccer Worldwide, who visited the city as a technical delegate of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), claimed Minsk was the ideal location to stage a beach soccer tournament.

Ponset also called on the Organising Committee to ensure the venue for the sport is full on each day of competition.

Beach soccer, which featured at the inaugural edition of the European Games in Baku in 2015, is one of 15 sports on the programme at the second edition of the multi-sport event.

"This is a very good place for a beach soccer tournament," said Ponset.

"The facility is in the centre of the city, which is important for attracting viewers. 

"We could arrange an excellent event with a good location, a modern stadium, and high-class teams but it wouldn't look very good without viewers. 

"It is important to keep the stadium full every day during the European Games. 

"We should also get together soon in order to work on the stadium's design and make it comfortable and compliant with all the requirements."

Josep Ponset, the EOC technical delegate for beach soccer, claimed Minsk was the ideal location for a tournament in the sport ©Belarus Football Federation
Josep Ponset, the EOC technical delegate for beach soccer, claimed Minsk was the ideal location for a tournament in the sport ©Belarus Football Federation

Ponset also met with the head of the Belarusian Football Federation, Sergei Rumas, and other stakeholders to discuss the development of beach soccer in Belarus.

The announcement of the beach soccer venue came as Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed they would improve transport infrastructure in areas in Minsk in preparation for the Games.

Construction of a second runway at Minsk National Airport is among the development work the Ministry hopes to complete in time for the event.

"By the European Games we should complete the reconstruction of the parts of the motorways M6 Minsk-Grodno and R23 Minsk-Mikashevichi, and the construction of the second airport runway," Belarus' Minister of Transport and Communications Anatoly Sivak said.

"There tasks in the preparation of the infrastructure and facilities for every subsector of the road and transport complex."

The 2019 European Games are due to run from June 21 to 30.