(ATR) Belarus has relaxed its visa laws for foreign visitors to the European Games, as organizers unveil their first ambassador.
The government regulation will allow European Games ticket-holders to stay in the country from June 10 to July 10, 2019.
Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko signed the agreement on Tuesday, according to Belarusian news agency BelTA. For accredited athletes, entourages and team officials, the visa-free period is from May 20 to July 10.
Minsk 2019 now has its first ambassador.
Four-time Olympic champion and two-time world champion biathlete Darya Domracheva was announced on Tuesday.
Dubbed the ‘Hero of Belarus’ after winning three gold medals at the Sochi 2014 Olympics, she was named Star Ambassador in a ceremony at the headquarters of the Belarusian NOC by Minsk 2019 CEO George Katulin.
Domracheva’s mission is to help raise the profile of the 15-sport European Games, the European Olympic Committees flagship event.
"I will do my best to perform this role with dignity," said Domracheva, 31, who retired earlier this year after winning gold medals in the pursuit race, individual pursuit, and the mass start at Sochi 2014. She also wona silver and gold at the PyeongChang Winter Games and a.bronze at Vancouver 2010.
In 2015, she won the World Cup and accompanying Big Crystal Globe. In total, Domracheva won two gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal at the World Championships.
"Together with the other Star Ambassadors, we will help the entire world learn about this super event," she said.
"I believe that the 2nd European Games will be held at a very high level and new sports heroes will be born here. And they will remember Minsk as the city where they had their first great success and will tell others about it. This will be a very important contribution in the popularization of our country."
More Games ambassadors – "prominent and influential people from the world of sport, art, and culture" – are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Minsk 2019 said the ambassadors "will be tasked with promoting a positive image of the Games in Belarus and abroad, generating public interest, and drawing awareness to the 15 sports on the program of the 2nd European Games".
The program consists of: 3×3 basketball, archery, athletics, badminton, beach soccer, beach volleyball, boxing, canoe sprint, cycling, judo, karate, sambo, shooting, table tennis and wrestling.
In total, 4,082 athletes from all 50 European National Olympic Committees will compete at the European Games. Ten of the 15 sports will act as qualifiers for Tokyo 2020, with the European Games also counting as the official European championships for four sports.
There will be 91 men’s events, 89 women’s events and 21 mixed events, with 115 universality spots available.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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