Baku, Azerbaijan, March 4
By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:
Azerbaijan has great experience in holding competitions of international level at the National Gymnastics Arena, Vice-President of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation (AGF) Altay Hasanov said March 4.
He made the remarks answering the questions of reporters about the preparation for the upcoming FIG World Cup in Trampoline Gymnastics in Baku, to be held March 5.
Hasanov noted that the FIG World Cup in Trampoline Gymnastics is held in Baku for the first time, because this kind of gymnastics wasn't so developed in Azerbaijan before.
"It has only been two years since we started to popularize this style of gymnastics," said Hasanov. "Competitions in trampoline gymnastics, too, took place for the first time at the National Gymnastics Arena within the framework of the first European Games."
"Now the first World Cup in Trampoline Gymnastics will be held, which opens the FIG international calendar in trampoline gymnastics," he said. "I think we organized everything well and we are ready. What is only left for us to do is to prepare the team of athletes."
Hasanov regretted over the fact that this year the country failed to win a license for the Olympic Games in this kind of gymnastics, but expressed hope that Azerbaijani gymnasts will perform well in Baku.
"We will continue to further develop this kind of sport in the country, as well as other kinds of gymnastics," Hasanov said. "Our National Gymnastics Arena is very beautiful, unique and unusual. All conditions for athletes, coaches, and even for families with children have been created here."
"As is known, during competitions we organize a variety of entertainment events, one can see a lot of young people inside the Arena, parents with children, they come and have fun," the vice-president of AGF said. "This is the most important thing, since it is the popularization of sport. One of the most important goals is not only the results, but also to attract the youth, and we succeed in that."
Hasanov added that the sport of gymnastics has become very popular in Azerbaijan, and not only rhythmic gymnastics, in which Azerbaijan has been engaged and which the country has been developing for over 10 years, but also artistic gymnastics and trampoline gymnastics."
He also mentioned a large number of children involved in gymnastics sessions.
"We will soon be out of free spots," he said. "We will try to develop other sports as well, aerobics and acrobatics, and we're already doing it."
When the development of rhythmic gymnastics was only starting in Azerbaijan, there were almost half-empty halls, but within a few years, fans themselves began to attend competitions, Hasanov said.
"In addition to promotion, there must be desire to come and see," he said. "This desire is at a high level in rhythmic gymnastics, and it started to increase in artistic gymnastics, too."
"Regarding the trampoline gymnastics, the tickets are being sold," Hasanov said. "It may seem that it is unusual for us, but people want to see and we don't force anyone to come. Things were different at the first European Games. There were all the six kinds of gymnastics at one stage."
The vice-president of AGF noted that the seats at the World Cup in Trampoline Gymnastics in Baku won't be empty.
"Advertising has been launched, media outlets have reported about the competitions," Hasanov said. "It is something new for us. I think the audience will be excited. Let them come and they won't regret it."
Hasanov further said that the Azerbaijani Gymnastics Federation has been, for the second straight year, named among the federations distinguished for being active.
"We will even get paid for it," he said. "We hold a lot of competitions one after another, and besides, we take part in almost all major competitions, send our athletes, delegations - in one word, we actively participate in life of global gymnastics."
Hasanov then said that Azerbaijan already has its own senior sports officials.
"We also have our own representative at the International Gymnastics Federation. It is very important that the AGF Secretary General Farid Gayibov is also the vice-president of the European Union of Gymnastics," Altay Hasanov said.
"I'd like to say that we feel so much strength and potential that we will put forward the candidacy of Farid Gayibov for the position of European Union of Gymnastics president next year," he said. "I think he is a decent senior sports official brought up in Azerbaijan and he is highly respected in the gymnastics world. We will support him. We hope that he will progress even more."
"We hope for your support as well," Hasanov told the reporters.