The executive director of the European Games Simon Clegg, who once again took a position during the meeting of the EOC executive committee, held last week in Belgrade, arrived in Minsk.

The programme of the visit includes meetings with MEGOC management, competitions venue tour, and visit some non-sports facilities that will host the Games.

Simon Clegg is a specialist with 30 years of experience within the Olympic movement. He served as executive director of the 1st European Games Baku 2015, as head of the British Olympic Association he played a key role in the successful London bid for the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The specialist also was the chief of the British delegation during the six Olympic Games.

The new director is expected to visit Minsk quite often and his experience will strengthen the team of organizers, which already has two foreign consultants, as well as provide ongoing support of other experts EOC.

On the Eve of the 39^th EOC Seminar & IOC Forum,  which will kick off today 11 May, the Members of the EOC Executive Committee had their second meeting of the year at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade. EOC President Janez Kocijančič opened the working session, warmly welcoming all the delegates and thanking the President of the Serbian Olympic Committee Božidar Maljković for his great hospitality.

“The EOC Executive Committee is very well composed and its Members have great experience and expertise in the field, leading our Organisation to achieve always better results”, Kocijančič remarked.

He also stressed that the EOC’s new approach, based on transparency and efficiency and perfectly in line with IOC and ANOC policies, will truly represent the Olympic spirit in our continent.

The EOC Audit Committee also attended the meeting, giving a report on the activities of the association and highlighting that the financial statements are perfectly in line with the records.

Progress in preparation for the 2^nd Minsk 2019 European Games was reported by Coordination Commission Chair Spyros Capralos and MEGOC CEO George Katulin, who gave an overview of the results achieved so far, emphasizing the satisfaction of the NOCs at the first Open Day in Minsk.

The European Games consultants Pierce O’Callaghan and Asimakis Asimakopoulos also remarked on the hard work that has been jointly carried out by MEGOC, EOC and the CoCom, drawing special attention to the fact that June will be a very crucial month, due to the many deadlines to be delivered with only 12 months to go.

At European Union level, the activities of the EOC EU Office in Brussels and related information were also addressed, especially the new Data Protection Legislation that will come into force by the end of May.

At the International level, ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg gave a brief report on the latest ANOC activities and referred to the ‘new norm’, which aims at lowering costs at Olympic Games, easing the candidature procedure and setting reasonable budgets.

Finally, Spanish NOC President Alejandro Blanco and Secretary General Victoria Cabezas delivered an overall presentation of the 47^th EOC General Assembly to be held in Marbella next November, showing the Executive Committee the city, the venues and the provisional programme.

According to EOC

The 2nd European Games was discussed today in Brussels on the 81st Congress of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). A presentation on the 2019 multisport event during the meeting of continental session AIPS Europe was held by the Head of Communications of Minsk European Games Organizing Committee (MEGOC) Alexei Bogdanovich. Journalists were curious about the services that will be provided during the Games for the media, such as the transportation system. They are also interested in the Games’ qualification system for the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.

The presentation of the 2nd European Games during AIPS Congress was made in cooperation with the Belarusian Association of Sports Press. MEGOC had an opportunity to introduce the upcoming events to a larger international audience, as well as to establish relationships with the world media. Country-leading media from Malta, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, and Ireland demonstrated their interest in informational cooperation with MEGOC.

Background:

The Congress of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) is held annually. More than 200 sports journalists from 100 countries attend the event. The 81st Congress takes place from May 7 to May 10, 2018, in Brussels (Belgium).

This year’s agenda is aimed at solving the current problems in sports journalism, as well as bringing together the members of the Executive Committee of AIPS, the continental sections.

The MEGOC would like to thank the President of the European Union of Sports Press Charles Kamenzuli (Malta) for the opportunity to participate in the Congress of AIPS.

Photo:  Sergei Dotets (Republic of Moldova)