Free athletes from Belarus participated in the opening of Eurogames in Krakow

On June 21, at the official invitation of the Ministry of Sport and Tourism of Poland, a Belarusian delegation took part in the opening ceremony of the III European Games in Krakow. This was announced by its member, Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Head of the National Crisis Management Pavel Latushka. The delegation also included Mikhail Zaleuski, the former general director of the BATE club, Latushka's deputy in charge of sanctions in sports, the famous Belarusian footballer and coach Aliaksandr Khatkevich, the Belarusian sambo wrestler Stsiapan Papou (in Belarus he was fired as a dissident), the Belarusian kickboxer Ivan Hanin (in Belarus he faced repression), the archer Karyna Kazlouskaya (she was forced to go abroad).

"The participation of the Belarusian delegation in the opening ceremony of the Second European Games at the official invitation of the host country is a step toward separating Lukashenka's athletes who support propaganda from Belarusian athletes who have openly protested against the regime's crimes," says Pavel Latushka. "It is an excellent precedent for international sports institutions and competition organizers. We hope it will become an example for others."

The organizers did not invite any representatives of the Lukashenka regime or Belarusian athletes to the European Games in Poland.