Minsk has for the first time advanced to the top 20 sporting cities, rising from number 32 to 19 in the ranking based on data on more than 600 cities that have hosted or are planning to host significant sporting events. Minsk owes its success largely to hosting the 45th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees, when a decision was made to hold the second European Games in the Belarusian capital. The status of the world"s most sporting city has been maintained by London for five years.
