The fifth Host City conference and exhibition, Host City 2018, takes place in Glasgow on 20 to 21 November.

The theme of Host City 2018, “The Future of Major Events” was announced and discussed at SportAccord 2018 by Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland and Sir Craig Reedie CBE, IOC member and President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

In conversation with Ben Avison, Host City’s Editorial and Conference Director, the VIP speakers discussed what lies ahead for major events sector and gave a taste of items on the agenda for Host City 2018: the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events.

The discussion took place at Speakers Corner at 12:00 on Tuesday 17 April.

Looking ahead to the discussion, Paul Bush OBE, who leads EventScotland as part of his role as VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “We’re at an interesting juncture in the hosting and delivery of major events. The rapidly changing way audiences are engaging with events through the advancements in technology as well as the social and economic impacts on the host country makes the future of major events a hot topic for discussion.

“Major events can create an impact like no other. Articulating their special DNA and how they can provide a 360-degree perspective across sport, culture, health, education and tourism is something I look forward to discussing with the industry during the Speakers Corner session and in great depth at this year’s Host City conference in Glasgow. By continuing to evolve and innovate, the future of major events will continue to be a positive one.”

Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director said: “Host City always addresses the primary concerns of the major events hosting sector and this year’s theme, ‘The Future of Major Events’ is no exception.

“Across the world, demographics, economics and geopolitics are all changing in tandem with revolutions in technology that are transforming the landscape forever. Rights holders, hosts and organisers must all stay ahead of the game to ensure their major events are engaging and beneficial for future generations, and Host City conference and exhibition provides the ideal setting for this.”

After the VIP dialogue, attendees had the opportunity to share their thoughts and discuss how they can get involved in Host City 2018.

Host City speaker Sarah Lewis OBE, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation (FIS) and Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations (AIOWF) also looked ahead to Host City 2018, saying: "Stakeholders of major events all have the same goal to have highly successful events and consequently it is essential to connect and collaborate to fulfil these to the best extent. The platform offered by Host City assists to facilitate the process and also learn more about each other's diverse needs".

About Host City

Host City is the media and event of choice for cities, rights holders, organising committees and suppliers in their quest for best practice on hosting major events of all kinds.

First launched in 2003 as a bilingual magazine for the organisers of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Host City now serves all stakeholders in international sports, business, cultural and events through magazines, website, conferences and exhibition.

Now in its fourth year of growth, Host City conference and exhibition is firmly established as the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events, renowned for the highest level of speakers, content and networking. Host City 2017 recorded its greatest participation more than 50 city representatives, 30 event owners, 20 organising committees, 15 media and two hundred delegates. Host City will be returning to Glasgow in November 2018 with a greatly increased exhibition.

The first Host City Asia event takes place in Beijing at the end of May 2018, bringing international event owners and Asian hosts together for high level discussion and networking.

Host City is the Official Event Development Partner of SportAccord 2018.

For more information contact ben.avison@hostcity.com (+44 7876 682072)

For information and industry news, visit www.hostcity.com

Follow Host City on Twitter @Host_City

EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.

Host City Asia, taking place on 31 May in Beijing under the theme of “Investing in Events to Attract New Audiences”, is attracting rights holders of the world’s most popular major events, with a record number of Olympic International Federations (IFs) participating.

The leaders of Olympic IFs committed to attend include: Anders Besseberg, President, International Biathlon Union (IBU); Beng Choo Low, Secretary General, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC); Luis Alexandre Pontes Rodrigues, Director for Asia and Oceania, Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB).

Other IFs confirmed to participate at senior level include World Skate, International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).

The leaders of other major sports events represented at Host City Asia include Erich Wolf, CEO, Red Bull Air Race and Victor Cui, International CEO, ONE Championship.

It’s not just sports events represented either; with a panel on “How cities can become hubs for entertainment and culture”, Host City Asia serves the diverse interests of event hosts from China, Asia and Oceania.

Delegates will also hear from and meet organisers of the biggest international mega events hosted in Asia between now and 2022.

China’s biggest corporations are also supporting Host City at senior level, with Dalian Wanda Group’s Chen Hailiang a recent addition to the agenda – and more Chinese brands set to follow.

Other international experts confirmed to speak at Host City Asia include David de Behr, Head of Global Events, Aggreko; Patrick Vadja, Senior Risk Advisor, Marsh and Jeff Ruffolo (Expert Advisor to Beijing 2008, Guangzhou 2010, Nanjing 2014 and Beijing 2022).

“The stage is set for our first conference in Asia to be a huge success,” said Ben Avison, Editorial and Conference Director at Host City.

“Host City conferences always attract fantastic speakers and after four years of growth in the UK it should be no surprise that our first conference in Asia is set to be another hit.

“We are particularly overwhelmed that our Beijing event is enjoying the greatest ever level of participation from International Federations and other major event rights holders and we are delighted to be able to present such a great opportunity to host cities across Asia.

“And given that the Host City brand started life as a magazine published in China in 2003, it is a great pleasure to bring Host City back to its origins in the great Olympic city of Beijing.”

The first Host City conference took place in London in 2014, followed by three successively greater conferences and exhibitions in Glasgow. Host City 2018 takes place in Glasgow on 20 and 21 November.

Host City Asia takes place in Beijing on 31 May. For more information about Host City Asia please visit http://www.hostcity.com/events/host-city-asia/

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord is delighted to confirm Budapest as the Global Partner for the 16th edition of the World Sport & Business Summit taking place from 15 - 20 April 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. Attended by delegates represented at the highest levels, this includes all the international sports federations within GAISF, as well as organisations and industry involved in the business of sport.

Commenting on their global partnership, Deputy Mayor of Budapest, Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky said: “Budapest is a new force among sports host cities with a great sporting future ahead. Ranked second in the Sportcal Global Sport Cities Index 2017-2023, Budapest hosted the hugely successful FINA Aquatics World Championships and World Judo Championships in 2017.

“Budapest will also become the European Capital of Sport for 2019, taking its place on the stage among the world’s greats.

“As a host city, we are immensely proud of our developing track record and look forward to sharing our experiences with the sporting community attending this year’s SportAccord in the iconic host city of Bangkok.”

Building on the diversity and hosting successes of 2017 which also included the Red Bull Air Race, the premier club competitions for EHF Champions League Final4 and LEN Champions League Final6, as well as the European Youth Olympic Festival, Budapest’s quest to stage global events is set to continue.

Chosen as the European Capital of Sport for 2019, Budapest will host five world championships with the aim of firmly establishing itself as a leading host city and nation for major events.

With its long term vision, unstoppable energy as well as breakneck speed in achieving the impossible in record time - such as the new Duna Arena Aquatics Centre - Budapest has now turned its attention to the city’s infrastructure and additional sports venues for future championships. Located in the heart of one of Europe’s striking natural urban environments, Budapest aims to create a modern and interconnected city for visitors, sports fans and the local community.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord said, “It is with immense pleasure that we welcome Budapest as the Global Partner for SportAccord 2018. Budapest’s ambition and commitment to sport as a world player while staying true to their local identity, paves the way towards a very exciting future. We wish Budapest a productive and successful time in Bangkok.”

With over 135 cities/regions in attendance at last year’s event, the SportAccord 6-day Summit is a unique opportunity for delegates to network and establish new connections with the key decision-makers involved in the business of sport by registering at www.sportaccord.com.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at this prestigious global gathering and take advantage of the opportunities associated with becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, should contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.

As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events, a 3-day Exhibition as well as an extensive Conference programme to include: the Summit (Plenary), CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord.

Other key features include: Speakers’ Corner, the Thai Pavilion, the Sports Festival, the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.

Losberger De Boer, a leading provider of integrated temporary and semi-permanent space solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rene Just as Chief Financial Officer of the company. He started with the company on April 3, 2018 and will succeed Carlo Dyckhoff from that date.

The Supervisory Board is grateful to Carlo Dyckhoff for his contribution and commitment in accompanying Losberger De Boer to where it stands today: a leading global player providing a wide range of products and services to many highly recognized customers.

Rene Just (Danish nationality, 50 years) has an extensive financial background from working for a broad variety of international companies. Most recently he held the position of CFO with Esvagt A/S, where he worked since 2016. Prior to this, Rene Just held senior management roles in Polygonvatro GmbH, Saxo Bank A/S and ISS. He started his career as controller with Colgate-Palmolive and has a Master of Science degree from Aarhus University.

The Supervisory Board is delighted to welcome Rene Just to Losberger De Boer and commented: “Rene brings with him significant international experience from Europe, Middle East and Asia and has an excellent track record of leading finance functions in various global companies. He has worked for listed and private equity owned companies and has shown his strength in professionalizing organisations, both from a financial as well as operational perspective.

"In the coming years, strong emphasis will be placed on the further integration of the various companies Losberger De Boer has acquired during the last years in order to fully benefit from all the available resources and capabilities. With the appointment of Rene, we have completed the Management Board to grow the company successfully and to strengthen its position as a leader in the market for temporary accommodations.”

About Losberger De Boer Group

Losberger De Boer is one of the globally leading providers of highly integrated temporary and semi-permanent space solutions, from sales to turnkey rental, with excellent customer satisfaction. Losberger De Boer is VCA**, ISO 9001-2015 and ISO 14001-2015 certified. Losberger De Boer is headquartered in Bad Rappenau, Germany, and operates 8 production facilities and 21 sales offices globally. Losberger De Boer employs 1200 staff worldwide. For more info please visit www.losbergerdeboer.com

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord is pleased to confirm Silver Partners EventScotland and Edmonton Events will take part in another edition of SportAccord, to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand from 15 – 20 April 2018. Attended by international sports federations, cities and regions, as well as organising committees, the World Sport & Business Summit attracts delegates across the sports business community at the highest levels.

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, and is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events by developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events. Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events commented: “EventScotland is delighted to be continuing as a Silver Partner of SportAccord. This is an extremely valuable event for us and the Scottish events industry as it provides us with the opportunity to showcase our capability and capacity as a host of major international events.

“Over the next 12 months, Scotland will once again provide the perfect stage for some amazing international sporting events, including the Glasgow 2018 European Championships, the 2019 European Athletics Indoor Championships and The 2019 Solheim Cup, and we cannot wait to show delegates exactly what we’ve got planned.”

Edmonton Events, a partnership between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Tourism, attracts major events to the city and works closely with rights holders to attract, enhance, and execute sport and cultural events of all kinds. Lindsay Harrison, Director of Edmonton Events said: “We are thrilled to be supporting SportAccord again through our partnership. As one of the top 20 cities in Sportcal’s 2017 Global Sports Cities Index, we value the expertise we’ve gained and the connections we’ve developed through attending SportAccord. We are looking forward to yet another successful event, this time in Bangkok, Thailand.”

Edmonton Events will also sponsor the ‘Relaxing Zone’ for delegates - a new feature at this year’s 3-day Exhibition. As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events, and an extensive Conference programme to include: the Summit (Plenary), CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord. Sportcal and Yutang Sports, two of the Principal Media Partners for SportAccord 2018 will also host workshops.

Nis Hatt, Managing Director of SportAccord remarked: “It is a real pleasure to welcome back EventScotland and Edmonton Events as part of SportAccord 2018. Their continued loyalty and support, as well as the mutual benefits these partnerships bring, also demonstrates SportAccord is an impressive draw for cities and regions involved in staging world-class sports events. We wish them an exciting and productive time in Bangkok.”

With over 135 cities/regions in attendance in Aarhus, Denmark for the 2017 edition, the SportAccord 6-day Summit is a unique opportunity for delegates to connect with the key decision-makers involved in the business of sport by registering at www.sportaccord.com.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at this prestigious global gathering and take advantage of the opportunities associated with becoming an Exhibitor or Partner, should contact the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.Other key features include: Speakers’ Corner, the Thai Pavilion, the Opening Ceremony and Closing Event.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.

Following the inspiring Olympic Games and Paralympics in South Korea, it was very clear that all eyes are on Asia at the moment! With more major events throughout Asia, especially with the 2020 Summer Olympics in focus, the entire industry is trending in the continent. More technologies and broadcast opportunities are developing and spreading their services across the Asian territories, proving that the sports marketing and media industry is booming.

SPORTELAsia 2018 welcomed 646 participants, representing 310 companies of 43 countries in an improved exhibition, the energy at the convention was tremendous! After receiving final figures, SPORTEL CEO Mr. Puons and the General Manager Ms. Amparo Di Fede announced that once again SPORTELAsia has provided high quality business and networking.

“We thank our collaborators SVG, ASN, TV Sports Market and Yutang Sports for their great work on the panel programme. Special thanks to our sponsors, Telstra, BeIN Sports, FeedConstruct, Arqiva, LaLiga and One Championship for their support and trust in the SPORTEL brand and for bringing the networking events and lounges to life.” Mr. Puons completes.

We wish you safe travels back home and look forward to welcoming you back for the SPORTELSummit on May 15 and 16, 2018 in Miami Beach and SPORTELMonaco from October 22 to 24, 2018.

Find more information at www.sportelsummit.com and www.sportelmonaco.com

THAI MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND SPORT & GAISF PRESIDENT DISCUSS IMPACT OF SPORTACCORD 2018 FOR THE HOST NATION, IFS AND GLOBAL SPORTS INDUSTRY

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – In a recent interview, the Thai Minister for Sport and Tourism Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat discussed the importance of SportAccord 2018 as a global platform for the international sports community and the host nation Thailand.

Speaking to one of the leading Thai newspapers - The Nation, the Minister commented on what it means for Thai businesses and delegates to be involved in the World Sport & Business Summit: “Logistically, it’s very difficult to get all of these sports representatives together in any one particular city at the same time. At SportAccord, every sports fan or sports player will have access to the big names at some point. The second important thing is the content that will be discussed during SportAccord. The delegates will address the major trends and issues in sports, many of which will be very beneficial for participants or those who have access to SportAccord. They will get to understand the directions and trends in sport, which will help sports planners and sports industry representatives to gain a clearer picture of what they should be doing or where they should be investing.”

The Minister also explained how well SportAccord is able to convey the true ‘spirit of sport’ and carry these messages to a diverse audience on an international scale.

Commenting on the plans Thailand is working towards becoming the top sports destination for staging global events the Minister said: “It is about doing three things. The first is to continue to raise the bar. The second is to keep the variety – whether it is to do with geography or culture … as we can accommodate all kinds of different sports events all year around. The third is to keep the spirt of sport in discussions on a regular basis.”

With this in mind, some of the sports federations of Thailand will also take part in a Sports Festival as part of this year’s SportAccord 2018. Aiming to capture the imagination of citizens and delegates alike, attendees will have the opportunity to mingle and witness a variety of sports, as well as experience the friendship and culture that Thailand has to offer.

SportAccord delegates will be treated to a spectacular performance featuring The Royal Barge Procession (Krabuan Phayuhayattra Chonlamak) as part of the Opening Ceremony due to take place on Tuesday 17 April at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall in Bangkok. This will be accompanied by Keng Tachaya, a well-known international singer with more than 20 global awards to his name.

The stunning performance will encompass the theme ‘The Sports Dream Destination’ and reinforce The Year of Thai Life Style for 2018 in Thailand. The exquisite Royal Barge marking the occasion is typically only presented at the most significant cultural and religious events. It will symbolise Thailand’s readiness to play host to the world of sport in its quest to become the World Sports Hub and Sports Dream Destination.

Building on the spirit of cultural exchange and rising to the SportAccord occasion, the host nation will also stage a Thai Pavilion giving delegates further opportunity to discover the cultural treasures Thailand has to offer and sample a delicious range of Thai culinary delights.

Speaking of the Host City as well as the 6-day event featured in the official eMagazine The Preview, Patrick Baumann, President of SportAccord and GAISF said: “"I am delighted that SportAccord is coming to Bangkok, a truly great city in a region which is playing an increasingly important role in world sport.

SportAccord is firmly established as the essential meeting place for all the major stakeholders in sport around the globe and the organisations and businesses which provide services for them. Consequently, for a week in April, Bangkok will become the hub of world sport, creating a significant opportunity for Thai businesses to arrange to meet and engage with International Federations and other sports organisations to identify opportunities for co-operation and for business.

GAISF and its members are looking forward to visiting Bangkok for our most important meetings of the year and we are determined to leave a positive legacy for the Thai sports community and business operating in the sports sector." Organisations who wish to take part should register for SportAccord 2018 which gives them access to the entire conference programme. As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events and a popular 3-day Exhibition, as part of the delegate experience.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at the World Sport & Business Summit can become an Exhibitor or Partner by contacting the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.

“We are honoured to have the opportunity to work with ONE Championship knowing that both organisations are strongly committed to the growth of the international sports business industry across Asia. We are both dedicated to providing the very best opportunities for our clients and partners across global markets.”, said Laurent Puons, SPORTEL CEO.

Mr. Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship has been keynote speaker on Tuesday 13 March at 15:00. Topic : «How ONE Championship became Asia’s largest global sports media property in History ».

Chatri Sityodtong, has detailed how he escaped the clutches of extreme poverty growing up as a young boy in Thailand, to graduating from one of the most prestigious schools in the world at Harvard, and eventually building the largest global sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship. The talk centers on the specific role martial arts has played in his life and how it powered him through the most difficult times. Sityodtong is a highly-successful entrepreneur with vast experience in various businesses. His wealth of knowledge and expertise, as well as the values which he holds dear, provides a sensational combination of business-savvy and determination. Listen to the story of how Sityodtong survived extreme poverty, changed his life, and is now helping others to change their lives for the better through martial arts.

ABOUT ONE CHAMPIONSHIP

ONE Championship is the largest global sports media property in Asian history. Headquartered in Singapore, ONE Championship is the home of martial arts. The world’s most exciting martial arts organization hosts the largest sports entertainment events across Asia, featuring some of the world's best martial artists and world champions, all signed to exclusive contracts, on the largest media broadcast in Asia. In addition to its digital platforms, ONE Championship broadcasts to over 1.7-billion potential viewers across 136 countries around the world with some of the largest global broadcasters, including Fox Sports, ABS-CBN, Astro, ClaroSports, Bandsports, Startimes, Premier Sports, Thairath TV, Skynet, Mediacorp, OSN, and more..

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – SportAccord today confirmed record levels of engagement from key players with over sixty-five nationalities already registered for the World Sport and Business Summit set to take place at the Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Center, Thailand from 15 – 20 April 2018.

With support from the highest levels, including the Host City and Nation Thailand, as well as from the sports community and industry, SportAccord is pleased to confirm all five Gold Partnerships for the 16^th edition have been taken. This includes 2017 host Sport Event Denmark as well as Sports Bureau Macau SAR Government who have signed once more. SportAccord also sees three new Gold Partner entries this year including Chungcheongbuk-do, Federation Internationale de Teqball (FITEQ), and Malaysia Major Events - a Silver Partner in previous years.

Organisations looking for opportunities to increase their visibility at the World Sport & Business Summit can become a Partner or Exhibitor by contacting the sales team: sales@sportaccord.com or phone +41 21 601 27 64.

Always a popular draw at SportAccord, record numbers of exhibitors have also signed up. For the first time, a collective delegation of ten cities from the USA have come together to continue to build momentum in the region. Al Kidd the CEO of National Association of Sports Commissions commented:

“Since I began working at the NASC we have methodically turned over every aspect of the organization to improve our offerings to fit our new operating mantra. The NEW NASC will be more inclusive to all organizations on the sports events and tourism value chain. To do so, we intend to revise all aspects of our business including governance, programming, membership resources, educational development and our new more inclusive organizational name - American Sports Events & Tourism Society.

Kidd went on to say: “To that end, we recognize the importance of our international friends and relationships and am proud to partner with SportAccord with our first unified marketing effort in support of our current and future relationships. Our delegation members see the opportunity created by the SportAccord team to bring a united US front to the international sports world.  Our goal is that this begins a more robust business exchange of marketing, competitions at the amateur and professional levels and operational partnerships to bring speculator International events to our communities.” 

Further opportunities for networking as well as relaxation have also been built into this year’s Exhibition space to enhance the delegate experience. These include ‘Meet and Greet’, a Media Zone, and a Relaxing Zone sponsored by Edmonton Events, where delegates will have the opportunity to experience a Thai massage.

Speakers’ Corner has also garnered considerable interest this year with sixteen organisations taking the stage in a bid to engage delegates with their latest offerings and opportunities.

SportAccord continues to attract an array of speakers and subject matter experts for its Conference Programme. New for 2018, HealthAccord joins the conference programme with strong representation from global health organisations and the world of Academia - at the highest levels. Also new to this year’s conference approach, LawAccord will connect the dots and host a city themed session for delegates, providing a 360º degree view when it comes to contract negotiation for event owners and host cities.

Organisations who wish to take part in SportAccord and experience all the opportunities it brings, should register as delegates ahead of the price rise on 19 March where the delegate rate will be CHF 3,000.

In its pursuit to become the ‘Sports Dream Destination’, delegates will also have ample opportunity to experience the wonderful culture, hospitality and culinary delights Thailand has to offer, showcased in the Thai Pavilion. On top of this, SportAccord will also host a Sports Festival. Many of the national federations will take part in sports demonstrations - open to both citizens and delegates alike.

Thailand, the land of smiles and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, has also attracted a record numbers of delegates bringing accompanying guests to the event.

Further networking events are also planned including a stunning Opening Ceremony at the Royal Thai Navy Convention involving the prestigious Royal Barge Procession as well as a Thai banquet of ‘tasters’ to complement the Thai experience for delegates.

As part of the Official Schedule, SportAccord will host well over 20 networking events and a popular 3-day Exhibition, as well as a full conference programme including: the Summit, CityAccord, LawAccord, MediaAccord and HealthAccord.

Follow developments and updates via Twitter @sportaccord using #sportaccord, as well as LinkedIn and on Facebook.

Minsk, Belarus; 4 March 2018: European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Janez Kocijančič led a successful three-day visit to Minsk and was satisfied with the progress of preparations for the second edition of the European Games, which are to be held in the Belarussian capital from 21-30 June 2019.

President Kocijančič was joined by the EOC’s Minsk 2019 European Games Coordination Commission (CoCom), led by Chair Spyros Capralos and Vice Chair Zlatko Mateša, as well as a group of EOC experts. The EOC team also included EOC Vice-President Niels Nygaard and EOC Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi.

Over the three days, President Kocijančič led the EOC team at a number of meetings to receive an update on the EOC’s flagship event, including one with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko.

Speaking after this meeting, President Kocijančič said he that he is eagerly awaiting the start of the second European Games: “The European Olympic Committees is fully satisfied with the preparations that have been made so far, and we are looking forward to the future with optimism and confidence. The Minsk 2019 European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) has highly-qualified, welltrained, professional staff working hard to deliver an excellent second edition of the Games.”

President Kocijančič also congratulated President Lukashenko on the results of the Belarusian athletes at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, where they won two gold medals and one silver: “I would like to congratulate the Belarusian team for finishing 15th in the PyeongChang 2018 medal table. This was a great effort and reflects the high level of sporting competence here in Belarus. Belarus is not only a country that performs well on the field of play, it is also a country with world-class sporting infrastructure and organisation. Because of this, we are very confident that the European Games will be a resounding success.”