When preparing for holding the 2nd European Games in 2017-2019, Belarus has spent nearly Br540 mln (about $265 mln), Finance Minister Maksim Yermalovich said on Wednesday.
According to him, budget resources made up almost half of the total (Br266 mln).
On June 26, The Belarusian MPs were considering the 2018 budget performance report. However, when asked about the profit gained, the minister failed to give a clear answer.
“From the point of the implementation of the foreign economic policy, it is difficult to assess everything in money terms. This considerably expands the country’s investment attractiveness,” stae-run news agency BelTA quotes him as saying.
Interestingly, president Alyaksandr Lukashenka hoped earlier that holding the European Games would cost Belarus a bit more than $50 mln.
“It is nothing for the country. And we may not need [the money]: Europeans said they will help,” he stressed in 2016.
The 2nd European Games are being held in the Belarusian capital in June 21-30, 2019. For the first time it took place in 2015 in Baku; it was started rolling by Lukashenka’s close friend, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, who definitely wants it to run and run. 196 countries are reported to be broadcasting the Games in which 4,000 athletes, representatives of 50 states, are participating. In total, competitions in 15 sports and 23 disciplines will take place.
