Meeting with President of the European Olympic Committees Janez Kocijancic

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The preparations for the Second European Games 2019 in Belarus will be done at the highest level, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with President of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Janez Kocijancic on 29 November.

“You should know that you have strong support in Belarus. You can always count on our country. Ahead we have a big event [the Second European Games 2019] and we will have to do a lot together. Our representatives have recently made a report on the status of preparations for the Second European Games. I would like to assure you that everything that we have promised will be accomplished: all facilities will be modernized or built anew and tested by mid 2019. You will have no problems regarding the accommodation and catering for guests, nor with athletes, coaches, specialists, or functionaries of the Olympic committees,” said the President.

“This will be the best European Games. Because all Belarusians will live and breath this event. This will not be a local event. All our neighbors will be aware of the Olympics next door. All doors will be open to them. We will invite all who will want to visit our country. I guarantee you this,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He also congratulated Janez Kocijancic on his election as President of the European Olympic Committees and wished him every success at this role. “We followed the elections with deep interest. You know my attitude towards the situation with the former president of the organization. We also wanted the continuity to be preserved. Our candidate (I am glad that this is the candidate of all the Olympic committees of Europe) has won,” the head of state said.

For his part, Janez Kocijancic noted that Aleksandr Lukashenko invited him to Belarus as the president of the country and as the President of the National Olympic Committee. “You are one of the leaders who are the backbone of the world. If you promise that everything will be organized well, then this will be so,” he said.

“We are very satisfied with the way the preparations are going. We are on schedule. I am sure that European Games in Minsk will be the best in history,” said Janez Kocijancic.