The 45th EOC General Assembly concluded today in Minsk with EOC acting President Janez Kocijančič describing it as a ‘crucial’ two days for the Olympic Movement in Europe.

Kocijančič, who is also a Vice President of the International Ski Federation, said:

“This General Assembly was crucially important. We needed to take vital decisions, and we have done that. We have agreed to help Patrick Hickey prove his innocence and return to Ireland, we have chosen Minsk to host the European Games in 2019 and we have launched a new and innovative corporate identity.

“I am delighted that the future of the European Games is assured. The Games are an important event for European athletes and have a key role to play in helping them reach the Olympic Games by offering qualification opportunities and vital experience of a major multi-sport event.

“For Minsk 2019 we want to prioritise the use of the city’s existing sports venues and deliver a Games concept suited to Belarus’s national sports identity.”

Day one of the General Assembly also saw important decisions taken around the European Youth Olympic Festival with the Winter and Summer editions for 2021 being awarded to Vuokatti, Finland, and Košice, Slovakia, respectively.

The EOC’s new brand architecture and identity was also outlined to members, who had played their part in an innovative reveal ceremony during the welcome dinner the night before. The new corporate identity is centered around a 50-piece mosaic, consisting of blue and azure colours, representing the 50 member nations of the EOC.

The first day concluded with the Piotr Nurowski prize for the Best European Young Athlete of the year being awarded to 17-year-old pole vaulter Emmanouil Karalis, from Greece, from a shortlist of four.

Key activities on day two included the awarding of European Olympic Laurel awards and presentations from Frédéric Donzé, WADA’s Chief Operating Officer, and Toshio Tsurunaga, Head of Olympic Games Services, whose presentation highlighted that European athletes won 48% of the medals at Rio 2016.

The 46th EOC General Assembly in 2017 will be hosted in Zagreb, Croatia.