Opening ceremony of renovated sports complex Dinamo held in Minsk

The renewed Dinamo Stadium in Minsk was solemnly reopened on Thursday. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko took part in the opening ceremony. The head of state presented a symbolic key to the stadium to members of the national track-and-field athletics team and football players. Belarus' national anthem was performed during the ceremony, with spectators seated on the grandstands of the new stadium singing it, too. The organizers prepared a large-scale music and sport program for the event. Popular Belarusian singers and performers, the Belarusian Defense Ministry orchestra performed for the spectators before the actual opening ceremony. Representatives of various kinds of sports, which will feature in the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019, and volunteers took part in the opening ceremony. Students of the Belarusian State Physical Culture University carried a large state flag of Belarus.

Lukashenko reminded about the history of the legendary stadium, which hosted competitions of the 1980 Olympic Games. In 2019 the Dinamo Stadium will become the heart of the 2nd European Games Minsk 2019.

The arena, which was closed since 2012, has a completely different look now: a unique roof, 22 thousand seats and modern equipment. From now on, Belarus can claim to hold the world's largest competitions. Dinamo is the key platform of the Second European Games. Today the sports facility has 4 stars from UEFA and the highest category of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The opening was extensive and bright. The sports program was equally rich. Head of the International Association of Athletics Federations Sebastian Coe and Olympic champion Juliya Nesterenko gave start to the race of young pupils of Belarusian schools. Tomorrow the Arena will welcome athletes from Belarus, the Balkans and the Baltic states. A football match was held today. The ceremony was broadcast live on Belarus-5.