STORE 
MY BEACH SOCCER 
The European Games executive director met Gabino Renales (BSWW deputy vice president) and Josep Ponset (Head of competitions) in Minsk
European Games executive director Simon Clegg has concluded a five-day visit to Minsk to inspect preparations for next year’s edition of the event, where he met Beach Soccer Worldwide’s deputy vice-president Gabi Renales and head of competitions Josep Ponset.
Renales and Ponset were in Minsk to review their sport’s progress, and held different meetings with all the parties involved in the organisation of the beach soccer events during the European Games Minsk 2019, after the successful presence of the sport in the previous edition of the Games.
Clegg, who played a key part in the organisation of the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015, described his first official trip to Belarus’ capital as “enlightening, educational and encouraging“.
As well as meeting with Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Vasily Zharko, Sports Minister Sergey Kovalchuk and Minsk 2019 chief executive George Katulin, Clegg also spoke individually with the director or lead of each of Minsk 2019’s functional areas.
“The first thing that struck me was the very important place sport plays in Belarusian society,” said Clegg, the former Baku 2015 chief operating officer.
“After visiting every competition and training venue I am confident that Belarus has the necessary sporting infrastructure and personnel to deliver an excellent European Games next year.”
The European Games Minsk 2019 are scheduled for 21st-30th of June, 2019, featuring 15 sports.
