The Minsk European Games Organising Committee (MEGOC) unveiled its "Bright Team" project, which has the aim of engaging the public with the event, in August 2018.

In particular, the scheme has the goal of involving more people in the 15 sports on the programme.

Bright Team began its work with a beach soccer tournament in the Belarus capital.

A MEGOC Bright Team side made up of applicants for volunteer roles were among teams to take part at the National Beach Soccer Stadium, which has been specially built inside two months for the Games.

Bright Team has taken its name from the official Minsk 2019 motto "Bright Year, Bright You".

This in turn has been based on the letters BY, the first two letters, phonetically, that make up the word Belarus and also the internet country code domain for the nation.

"Bright Team" events have also been held in other sports, including judo and 3x3 basketball.

The judo event saw participants put through their paces by Belarus judoka Marina Slutskaya, a former European champion.

Minsk 2019 chief executive Anatoly Kotov and marketing and advertising head Maksim Koshkalda were among those to take part.

They were joined by stars including blogger and television presenter Eugene Perlin, blogger Anna Bond and singers Anna Sharkunova and Dyadya Vanya.

Miss Belarus Maria Vasilevich was another to take to the tatami.

In September 2018, a Belarus media personalities side won a 3x3 basketball tournament held as part of the "Bright Team" initiative.

Eight teams took part in all at the Palova Arena, which will host 3x3 basketball during Minsk 2019.

Winning side Stolichnue beat Silver Screen, the official media partner of Minsk 2019, 9-8 in the final after knocking out a MEGOC outfit in the last four.