The Flame of Peace torch relay of the 2nd European Games was welcomed at the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve on 28 May, BelTA has learned.

The flame was carried around the reserve by master of weightlifting sports Yevgeny Shavchenko and well-known local inhabitant of the reserve, Bolotnik. The flame traveled along the wetlands to Lake Plavno and across the Berezina River to the village of Brody located on the border between Vitebsk Oblast and Minsk Oblast.

Director of the Berezinky Biosphere Reserve Andrei Prokoshin told BelTA: “It was a great honor for us to fulfill this important mission, i.e. to welcome and carry the Flame of Peace around the reserve. Lesik the Fox, the mascot of the 2nd European Games, became the main draw of the site for the locals and tourists. This event is an additional powerful impetus for further development for all of us,” he said.

Traveling through Vitebsk Oblast, the Flame of Peace has already visited Vitebsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Braslav, and Glubokoye. On 29 May, the flame of the Minsk European Games will reach Orsha. The route of the torch relay demonstrates the main landmarks of the region. Then, the Flame of Peace will head for Mogilev Oblast.

The 2nd European Games will take place in Minsk on 21-30 June. More than 4,000 athletes from 50 countries will compete in 200 medal events in 15 sports.