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Baku 2015 introduced new sports to Azerbaijani fans, says MP

Baku 2015 : EUROGAMES Materials 21 June 2015 17:48 (UTC +04:00)
Thanks to the Baku 2015 European Games, the Azerbaijani fans got familiar with the sports that are new for Azerbaijan, such as artistic gymnastics, triathlon, water sports and others.
Baku 2015 introduced new sports to Azerbaijani fans, says MP

Baku, Azerbaijan, June 21

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Thanks to the Baku 2015 European Games, the Azerbaijani fans got familiar with the sports that are new for Azerbaijan, such as artistic gymnastics, triathlon, water sports and others, Rauf Aliyev, the member of the executive committee of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, the member of Azerbaijan's parliament, told Trend June 21.

"The Azerbaijani fans got familiar with new sports, and remembered the sport disciplines that are long-forgotten in the country," he added.

"Water polo, artistic gymnastics - these sports have been forgotten in Azerbaijan. But now this all is revived," said the MP.

He said the fact that Azerbaijani athletes have achieved success in these sports should encourage the younger generation even more to go in for them.

The MP noted that the Baku 2015 European Games Organizing Committee, headed by Mehriban Aliyeva, was able in 2.5 years to create such an infrastructure, for construction of which other countries would spend six or seven years.

"The representatives of all the Olympic committees, sports delegations speak about the material and technical base of the Azerbaijani sport," he said. "Creating such an infrastructure in 2.5 years is truly a great achievement."

Many various sport facilities have been constructed in Azerbaijan and they have no analogues in Europe, he said. The reason is that while Europe was undergoing crisis, Azerbaijan continued the active construction, according to the MP.

He added that it is the result of merits of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The MP said that all the attempts to boycott the First European Games failed and participation of representatives of all 50 European countries in these Games proves that.

Many forces abroad tried to boycott the European Games, but nothing affected the holding of the wonderful opening ceremony, magnificent event. "I believe that the closing ceremony will also be wonderful."

Although some politicians urged not to go to the First European Games, many renowned athletes from all around Europe are participating here, said the MP. "Today, the foreign media reports that Azerbaijan is ready to host the Olympic Games and this proves that the attempts to boycott, defame the First European Games in Baku failed."

The European Games that kicked off June 12, will last till June 28. There is a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports.

More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe came to Baku to represent their nations over 17 days of competition. Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov

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