Olympic champion in figure skating Alexei Yagudin has joined the team of the 2nd European Games as a Star Ambassador. 

In addition to his triumph at the 2002 Olympic Games, Yagudin is a four-time world champion, three-time European champion, and two-time winner of the Grand Prix finals.

The distinguished athlete has also been appointed a UNAIDS Ambassador for the 2nd European Games as part of the effort to strengthen cooperation between the Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS in Belarus. 

“Participation in such a project is truly an excellent way to popularise sport. It gives the opportunity to communicate more, to talk with our peers, and develops a certain character core. The 2nd European Games, without a doubt, are about sport of the highest level, but they can also be an excellent push for many parents to instil a love for sport in their children, starting from basic physical education,” Alexei Yagudin said. “Sport, in all its varieties, unites millions of people around the world and, as a UNAIDS Ambassador, I am absolutely convinced that an HIV status should not affect either the attitude towards a person or his ability to pursue his life plans.”

Star Ambassadors of the 2nd European Games help to promote and form a positive image of the upcoming multi-sport event in Belarus and abroad, attract attention to Games values, pique interest among the country’s citizens and the world community, and also to promote the sports included in the Games programme.