Estonia's minister of culture visiting Paris Olympics

TALLINN - Estonia's Minister of Culture Heidy Purga is visiting the Paris Olympics from Thursday to Sunday, spokespeople for the ministry said. 

The minister will attend a reception for athletes at the Estonian embassy, meet the director of the City of Paris Museum of Modern Art, visit the Olympic Village and watch Estonian athletes in competition. 

"The Olympic Games are the world's biggest sporting event and as the minister responsible for sport, I am proud to be traveling to Paris to watch our athletes compete in one of the most important competitions of their lives," Purga was quoted by the spokespeople as saying.

Purga will watch competitions at the athletics stadium of the Olympics on Friday and Saturday, where Estonian athletes Karel Tilga, Janek Õiglane and Johannes Erm will compete in decathlon and Elisabeth Pihela in high jump. In addition, the minister will watch Madis Mihkels compete in the group cycling event. 

The Estonian embassy has also made a contribution to the dense cultural program during the Olympic Games in Paris. In collaboration with the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, the embassy is hosting an exhibition of old Estonian sports photographs. In cooperation with Art&Tonic Gallery, an exhibition of works by Estonian artist Robin Nõgisto is displayed in a nomadic gallery in Paris.

President Alar Karis and his wife, Sirje Karis, watched the events of the Summer Olympics in the French capital from July 25 to 28.

The 33rd Summer Olympics in Paris started on July 26 and will run until Aug. 11. Estonia is represented by 25 athletes competing in 14 sports.