Fifteen sports and 21 disciplines will be contested at Minsk 2019.

Thirteen venues will host events at the second European Games.

The Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the second European Games will take place at the Dinamo Stadium, which will also host the athletics events.

Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus, situated on the Svislač and the Nyamiha rivers.

Minsk has a population of 1.98 million people.

The Minsk 2019 mascot is Lesik the Fox who represents friendship, development, harmony, discipline, determination, cheerfulness, invincibility and vigour!

Lesik is pretty easy to spot with his red hat, white and green shirt, black shorts, blue shoes and yellow fur. These same colours are used on the Minsk 2019 logo.

One-hundred-and-ninety-nine medal events will be contested at Minsk 2019; 91 men’s events, 89 women’s events and 19 mixed events.

In all, 4,022 competitors will take part over 10 days.

The European Games take place every four years, the first of which was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2015.

Eight sports taking place at the European Games will serve as qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Minsk was elected as the venue for the second European Games on October 21, 2016 at the General Assembly of the EOC.

Fifty One European National Olympic Committees will be represented in the Belarusian capital during the Games.

Belarusian athletes won 43 medals at the first European Games - 10 gold, 11 silver, and 22 bronze - and finished seventh on the medal table.

The second European Games will be held at the largest sports facilities in Minsk, such as stadium “Dinamo”, “Minsk-Arena” and “Chizhovka-Arena”.

More than 8,000 volunteers will help prepare and stage Minsk 2019.

Minsk 2019 volunteers are assigned to one of 20 roles ranging from spectator services, hospitality, venue management, medical services, transport and protocol assistants.

Belaruskali is a Premium Partner of Minsk 2019 whilst Yasna-Beltelecom, MTS, Fabrika Reklamy, Belarusbank, UNICEF and LUCH are National Partners.

Faroe Islands will be able to compete for the first time at the second European Games in archery, badminton, judo and table tennis.

The first buyer of a paper ticket was Minsk 2019 mascot Lesik, the baby fox.

The programme of the European Games also includes the European Judo Championships which will gather the best athletes in the Chizhovka Arena.

The second European Games will be held under the motto Bright Year, Bright You.

The logo of the second European Games has been inspired by the slogan “Follow Your Dream”.

A Minsk Guest Card has been designed for tourists coming to the Belarusian capital and provides discounts and bonuses for museums, shopping centres, restaurants, and cafes.

Minsk is characterised by long avenues and neoclassical grandeur.

History of Torch Relays

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Week Seven

Minsk 2019 Opening Ceremony proves memorable spectacle

By Philip Barker

The Flame burns above Minsk this morning but many are reflecting on the night before after a spectacular Opening Ceremony which set the tone for the Games.

Lighting of cauldron to provide highlight of Minsk 2019 Opening Ceremony

By Philip Barker

The lighting of the cauldron in Dinamo Stadium in Minsk will tonight provide the spectacular climax to the European Games Opening Ceremony.

European Games Torch taken over by robot as Minsk 2019 countdown continues

By Philip Barker

A robot has carried the European Games Flame as the Torch Relay visited the Belarus Hi-Tech Park on the latest stage of its journey through Minsk.

Quadruple Olympic biathlon champion Domracheva gets her hands on Minsk 2019 Torch

By Philip Barker

Four-times Olympic biathlon champion Darya Domracheva finally carried the 2019 European Games Flame when it arrived in Minsk before Friday's (June 21) Opening Ceremony.

History-maker Grishin carries Minsk 2019 flame as Torch Relay visits Mound of Glory memorial

By Philip Barker

As the European Games flame finally approaches the city of Minsk, the Torch Relay cavalcade made one last stop en-route to pay tribute to those who liberated Belarus from Nazi occupation 75-years ago.

Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Hleb carries Minsk 2019 Torch

By Philip Barker

Alexander Hleb, who represented Arsenal and Barcelona with distinction, carried the 2019 European Games Flame when it reached Minsk Oblast region on the home stretch of its journey to Minsk.

Back to Flame of Peace

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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Week Seven

Minsk 2019 Opening Ceremony proves memorable spectacle

Lighting of cauldron to provide highlight of Minsk 2019 Opening Ceremony

European Games Torch taken over by robot as Minsk 2019 countdown continues

Quadruple Olympic biathlon champion Domracheva gets her hands on Minsk 2019 Torch

History-maker Grishin carries Minsk 2019 flame as Torch Relay visits Mound of Glory memorial