The national beach soccer stadium to be used at next year’s European Games Minsk 2019 was officially opened today in the Belarusian capital.

Construction of the stadium, the only non-existing venue to be used at Minsk 2019, took only two months. In compliance with international standards, the capacity of the new arena is 1,300 spectators. The venue joins beach soccer arenas in the Belarus cities of Borisov, Vitebsk, Kirovsk, Mozyr, Molodechno, Minsk, Slonim, and Shchuchin. One thing that differentiates the new Minsk stadium is the spectator seats, which are very close to the field of play.

The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism Alexander Baraulya, sports director of the Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) Sergei Shablyko, general secretary of the Belarusian Football Federation Yuri Vergeichik, chairman of the Beach Soccer Federation Alexei Sychev and the Director of the Olympic Sports Complex Andrei Nesterovich.

The venue will host the first test event for the European Games Minsk 2019: Stage 4 of the Euro Beach Soccer League from 3-5 August 2018. Four teams will compete - Belarus, Italy, Poland, and Turkey.

Deputy Minister Baraulya said: “The upcoming 2nd European Games is a chance for beach soccer to show all that it has to offer. In 2018, a national beach soccer team was officially created in Belarus. The new stadium is one of the forms of state support for the preparation for the multi-sport event next year. The traditions created here will have great importance in the future.”

MEGOC sports director Shablyko believes that the beach soccer tournament at the European Games will be popular among local and international fans, especially since the stadium is located in the Olympic Sports Complex next to the park zone.

Shablyko said: “It’s not a secret that Belarus loves sports, so we hope that the spectator seats at the national beach soccer stadium will be full during the 2nd European Games. I would like to praise the activities of the federation to develop the sport in the country, including in preparation for the European Games. I hope there will be an opportunity for as many children and youth sports schools to open as possible. It is my wish that beach soccer will eventually become an Olympic sport.”

The Euro Beach Soccer League is a continental championship featuring the best men’s national teams. It will be the first time a stage of the competition will be held in Minsk. Belarus Beach Soccer Federation Chairman Sychev urged fans to come out and support the home team, as a good showing in the Euroleague will be important in preparations for the European Games, scheduled for 21-30 June 2019.

Sychev said: “I think that the number of competitions and finances that we have planned for next year will allow the team to prepare well for the European Games. The goal is to finish among the winning teams of the event.”

Head coach of the Belarus national beach soccer team, Spanish specialist Nicolas Alvarado, said he wants his players to achieve the maximum results during the Euroleague. “The main thing is to win and show all your skills to the audience,” he said.

This Euroleage is part of Division A, where 12 teams compete over 5 stages. Each team will perform in two stages. The seven best teams in the standings will join the Italian team in the Superfinal (September 6-9), which Italy will host. The Belarusian team is currently in 6th place

with 6 points. Their closest rivals, Italy and Poland, have 3 points each while Turkey has none. The table is led by Ukraine and Portugal, with 12 points each after six games.

The Euroleague games in Minsk will be free of charge for spectators.

Euroleague 2018 is qualifying competition for the 2nd European Games. In addition to the host country Belarus, the 6 best Superfinal teams will take part in the Games, as well as the winner of the Promofinal (from Division B). If the Belarusian team finishes in the top 6 of the Superfinal the seventh-place team will also earn a berth to the European Games.