Baku, Azerbaijan, March 6
By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:
Holding such a large-scale sports event as the First European Games, will be beneficial for Baku, Olympic silver medalist Filip Ude from Croatia told Trend on Mar.6.
Azerbaijan will be able to host the Olympic Games as well in 10-15 years, according to the athlete.
Alongside with other well-known gymnasts, Ude is participating in the Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines that kicked off in Baku on Mar.4.
Ude, who won two bronze medals in these competitions, said he is satisfied with his results.
The gymnast said all participants in the competitions are worthy rivals, but he considers the Azerbaijani gymnasts Oleg Stepko, Petr Pakhnyuk and the Israeli gymnast Alexander Shatilov as the strongest of them.
Furthermore, Ude said he would like to participate in the First European Games to be held in Baku in June 2015, but no decision has been made on this issue yet.
He went on to add that only one gymnast from Croatia will be able to participate in the First European Games. European Championships will be held in April and the best gymnast in this championship will participate in the First European Games in Baku, according to Ude.
"I want to take part [in the First European Games] and hopefully, I will be the best in the European Championships," Ude said.
Furthermore, Ude talked about his impression of Baku. The Croatian athlete said this is his second visit to Azerbaijan's capital.
"I have good impressions of Baku," he said. "It is a very beautiful city with large new buildings."
Talking about the sports infrastructure in Baku, he said that a very comfortable National Gymnastics Arena has been built in the city. "I am glad to participate in the competitions here."
The Open Joint Azerbaijan Championships in Gymnastics Disciplines will be completed on Mar.6.
Coming from 22 countries, 133 gymnasts compete for medals in both the all-around and individual competitions.
Edited by SI
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