A tour of Minsk as it gears up for

European games
In the latest episode of Euronews' Metropolitans, Euronews reporter
Damon Embling visits Minsk – the capital of Belarus – as it gears up
to host this summer’s European Games. Thousands are expected to
visit the city. But what awaits them?

Taking centre stage at the games will be the city’s landmark Dinamo Stadium.
Opened in 1934, it has undergone a renovation to accommodate world class
sporting events like the European games. The CEO of the Minsk European
Games Organising Committee, George Katulin, sees the redo as symbolic of
new beginnings.

"This is not only the heart of the stadium but the heart of the Games. The
historical place for every citizen of the city, and now it's completely different,
especially inside.”

No stranger to big sporting spectacles, the Dinamo stadium previously held

football games for the 1980 Summer Olympics (hosted by Moscow). The
stadium has been refurbished and modernized with new facilities: "starting from
the sports equipment and finishing with the press centre and the lighting
system."

Katulin says there is already a “great demand” for tickets.

"We're expecting to have 4,000 of Europe’s best athletes here. Of course, more
than 8,000 volunteers will help us to organise this event and a lot of tourists."

Minsk's old town

Former biathlete Darya Domracheva - who has won six Olympic medals - took
us on a bike ride through her native Minsk. The cycle path takes us past Minsk's
old town – which was reconstructed after World War 2.

Domracheva - a European Games ambassador - loves to come here especially

in the summer.

"All of this area, becomes very alive in the summer, full of young people. Good
music festivals and, I think, almost every weekend, there's live music. With
beautiful jazz music, classical music. So, it's a very special atmosphere and
very nice to spend here warm summer evenings."

Arts Scene

Theatre enthusiast Maria Vasilevich – who also holds the titles of Miss Belarus
and Miss World Europe, says the city is jam-packed with culture.
“In Minsk, you can find a lot of different theatres, cinemas, museums. We have
a lot of different arts areas. It's very popular, especially among young people to
visit different interesting performances and to create them. And I think you can
find something interesting for you."

With the European Games around the corner, Minsk has plenty on offer for
visitors.

The games run from the 21st to the 30th of June.