Minsk Emerges As Main Contender To Host 2019 European Games

Minsk, Belarus, has "emerged as the main contender" to host the '19 edition of the troubled European Games, according to the AP. State news agency Belta reported Belarusian National Olympic Committee VP Maxim Ryzhenkov said that "our European partners are very interested in the second European Games taking place in Belarus." The comments came ahead of a meeting of the European Olympic Committee in Minsk. With the country in recession, Belarus could also "face financial pressures in hosting the event." Ryzhenkov: "The main issue is the budget." The 2019 European Games were "originally due to take place in the Netherlands, which pulled out last year citing financial reasons." The inaugural European Games were held last year in Baku, Azerbaijan. The games also "stretched Azerbaijan financially with construction of many new venues and a lavish opening ceremony" which cost $95M alone, according to Azerbaijan's sports minister (AP, 10/19).