Baku, Azerbaijan, June 28
Trend:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Russian team on the victory in the unofficial team standings at the first European Games in Baku, RIA Novosti reported.
"The potential of Russian athletes is the key for successful participation in the Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016," he said.
The first European Games in the history, to be held every four years, will be over in Baku on June 28.
"Russia became the winner in the unofficial team standings at the first European Games," a congratulatory telegram of the Russian president, published on the website of the Russian Olympic Committee said June 28. "Our team has held a significant position in the history of national sport. Congratulations! Well done!".
Putin also said that the competitions were tense. "The success depended not only on skill, but also on the psychological resistance, team cohesion, strength of spirit," said Putin. "You fully demonstrated these qualities."
Putin especially thanked the coaches, trainers of athletes and all those who helped them to adequately perform at the competitions in Baku.
"Together, you have proved that our team has a lot of potential, good reserves," he said, wishing the Russian team health and new victories. "I am sure that this is the key to success of Russia's participation in the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro."
The European Games that kicked off in Baku 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.