Minsk 2019 Inks Deal with International Sports Broadcasting

(ATR) Organizers of the second European Games have signed a contract with ISB to broadcast next year’s multisport event.

The agreement was signed by Minsk 2019 CEO George Katulin and ISB founder and managing director Manolo Romero in the Belarusian capital.

ISB broadcast the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015. It will also manage the sale of broadcast rights for Minsk 2019.

Minsk 2019 organizers plan to extend the global reach of the Games, with plans to sell the broadcast rights to 160 countries. The Baku 2015 edition was broadcast in about 140 nations.

Romero praised the Games facilities inspected by an ISB delegation on a two-day visit.

"They have hosted a number of international competitions in the past, which means they are well-prepared for the 2nd European Games and ready to operate in accordance with the international standards," he said.

Romero said a broadcast production plan was now in the works, which would clarify how many people would need to be recruited, including local specialists, for the broadcast coverage of the Games. Meetings with Belteleradiocompany, the state television broadcaster in Belarus, will also take place.

Belteleradiocompany will become a sub-supplier of the technical broadcasting services.

"I can assure we will provide the Games with Olympic-level broadcast", Romero said.

ISB has vast experience in sports broadcasting, including eight Olympics, six Paralympics and numerous world championships and FIFA World Cups.

It will produce an anticipated 600 hours of broadcast coverage of the 2019 European Games.

The Games, featuring a 15-strong sport competition program, will be staged at 12 sports venues. More than 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 200 medal events. Competitions in 10 sports will serve as qualifiers for the Tokyo Olympics.

Reported by Mark Bisson

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.