Baku, Azerbaijan, Mar.3
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
All gymnastic disciplines will be presented at the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship, which will be held in Baku March 4-6 for the first time, vice-president of the European Union of Gymnastics (UEG), Secretary General of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Farid Gayibov said at a press conference Mar.3.
He said that six gymnastic disciplines will be presented at Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship, namely four Olympic and two non-Olympic disciplines.
This is a unique format, Gayibov said.
"As is known, competitions on four types of gymnastics are held at different play fields at the Olympic Games," he said. "They will be held on a single arena here. Even the competitions for two types of gymnastics will be held at the same time."
He said such events are complex and quite difficult to organize, but they will be of interest to viewers.
"I think we can handle this," said Gayibov.
He recalled that in late 2002, Mehriban Aliyeva was elected the president of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, adding that since then the federation has united three types of gymnastics.
"Today, the federation is developing all six types of gymnastics," Gayibov underscored.
He said the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines is a test event on the eve of the First European Games.
"Gymnastics will also be represented at the upcoming First European Games in Baku along with 20 types of sports," he said, adding, "That is why we decided to invite the neighboring countries too, to the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships."
He added that as there is great interest in the First European Games, and along with athletes from European countries, athletes from the US, Kazakhstan and other states will also arrive in Azerbaijan.
Furthermore, Gayibov said that athletes from 22 countries will take part in the competitions within Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship in Gymnastics.
"The competitions will begin on March 4 on the National Gymnastics Arena," he said, adding that a toss-up was held on all six disciplines for the First European Games today.
He added that the entrance to the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championship in Gymnastics to be held on the National Gymnastics Arena is free.
Gayibov added that spectators will have the opportunity to follow all the competitions.
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sports event for the continent which will take place on June 12-28, 2015.
There will be a total of 20 sports at Baku 2015: 16 Olympic sports and four non-Olympic sports. More than 6,000 athletes from across Europe will be representing their nations over 17 days of competition.
Baku was awarded the games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012.
