European Games in Minsk: five Monegasques in competition

Four years after the success of the first edition in Azerbaijan, Belarus capital Minsk is currently hosting the 2nd edition of the European Games. Four Monegasque athletes are among 4,000 participants from 50 countries competing in 15 different sports.

Judoka Cédric Bessi

From 21st to 30th June, athletes in 10 disciplines will be chasing their qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. They will also be competing for the title of European champion.

The Principality of Monaco is being represented in four sports: boxing, cycling, judo and table tennis.

Cyclist Victor Langellotti

The European Games follows the recent 18th Games of the Small States of Europe in Montenegro, and three medalists from Monaco are also competing in Belarus.

“This is a major competition as the 2nd European Games will allow our athletes to gauge themselves with the very best at a very high level,” said Yvette Lambin-Berti, Secretary General of the Monegasque Olympic Committee.

The athletes wearing red and white will be boxer Hugo Micallef, judoka Yann Siccardi, table tennis player Xiaoxin Yang, judoka Cédric Bessi and cyclist Victor Langellotti.

Judoka Yann Siccardi

In Minsk, the Monegasque delegation is led by Damien Desprat together with coaches Juan Gonzalez (boxing), Guido Possetto (cycling), Marcel Pietri (judo) and Anthony Geminiani (table tennis), as well as Nicolas Pollano (osteopath).