The Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) is pleased to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in Belarus.
MEGOC CEO George Katulin and UNICEF Representative in Belarus Dr Rashed Mustafa Sarwar signed the MoU on 15 November at the headquarters of the Belarus National Olympic Committee in Minsk.
The MoU is aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of childhood development that will create great educational and humanitarian legacies for the 2nd European Games, scheduled for 21-30 June 2019 in the Belarusian capital. The focus will be on providing children with greater opportunities to experience cultural, artistic, health and leisure activities, thereby helping them to improve their mental and physical abilities and positively shape their personalities.
“It is a very emotional moment,” Dr Sarwar said at the signing. “The 2nd European Games, with more than 4, 000 athletes coming to Belarus and millions of people following it worldwide, will be a mega event, something that doesn’t happen every day and we’re really excited about UNICEF being a part of it. We’re looking forward to a strong partnership and generating significant legacies for the Games.”
Katulin added: “A similar document was signed during the inaugural European Games in Baku. Therefore, in keeping with tradition, we like to talk about the European Games as a social project for the host country. We see the agreement with the UNICEF Office in Belarus as a really important step in the creation of an atmosphere of inclusivity for all kids in sport. One of the main goals of the Games themselves is education of the younger generation through sports, and UNICEF is a really powerful partner in achieving this.”
As part of the agreement, a series of joint public events – sports, social, educational and recreational – will be held in the lead up to and during the 2nd European Games in Minsk.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and well-being of every child, in everything it does. Together with its partners, UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work in Belarus visit: www.unicef.by.
