Minsk Arena to host CIS Games official opening ceremony

The first competitions of the Games began the day before: Minsk Palace of Rhythmic Gymnastics hosted qualifying competitions. First champions and prize-winners will be determined on 5 August in rhythmic gymnastics, weightlifting (Grodno), Greco-Roman wrestling (Soligorsk) and judo (Gomel).

According to experts, the most interesting will be competitions in beach soccer, rhythmic gymnastics, weightlifting, sambo and field hockey that will have a very competitive field. Other sports will feature young athletes who in the future will make up national teams of their countries.

At the home CIS Games, Belarus has fielded 673 athletes. The second largest delegation is from Russia - 602 athletes. Uzbekistan is in third place in terms of the number of representatives. Most sports will feature juniors and youth teams. One of the main features of the Games is that they will be held throughout Belarus. Another important fact is that the Games are open. They will feature not only athletes from the CIS but also from Venezuela, Pakistan, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Cuba, Egypt, Mongolia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Lebanon, Oman and other countries.

About 1,000 journalists from Belarus and more than a dozen other countries will cover the 2nd CIS Games. The main media center of the Games has been deployed in the Belarusian State University of Physical Education. The media center is equipped with everything necessary for journalists to conduct their work, including over 30 wired internet access points, Wi-Fi, computers and working space. The competitions will be broadcast online on the official website of the games at https://belarus2023games.by/.

Media centers have also been arranged in other Belarusian cities that will be hosting the Games these days. Media accreditation cards will make it possible for journalists to use public transport free of charge.

Most of the competition program (14 sports) will be broadcast on the national TV channels Belarus 5, ONT and STV. The opening and closing ceremonies of the Games will be shown by Belarus 1.

The CIS Games official closing ceremony will take place in Minsk Arena on 13 August.

The Belarusian cities hosting the competitions include Minsk (rhythmic gymnastics, athletics, volleyball, modern pentathlon, shooting, beach football, 3x3 basketball), Brest (handball, swimming), Grodno (field hockey, weightlifting), Gomel (judo), Vitebsk (Thai boxing), Mogilev (archery, karate), Soligorsk (wrestling), Molodechno (beach volleyball), Orsha (boxing), Zhlobin (sambo). Entry to all events is free.