Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 9 / Trend M. Aliyev /
The decision to hold the European Championship in Gymnastics in Azerbaijan in 2014 was made today.
The Twenty-Third European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics was held in the Heydar Aliyev Sport and Concert Complex in Baku in June 2007.
European championship was held in Baku in 2007-2009. World championship was held in Baku in 2005.
Azerbaijani Youth and Sports Minister Azad Rahimov said at a press conference held by the Youth and Sport Ministry jointly with the European Union of Gymnastics that European Gymnastics Championship 2014 will be held at the Gymnastics Olympic Complex, which is under construction.
"The complex will be ready by May 2014," Rahimov said.
Vice-President of the European Union of Gymnastics Rudolf Hediger said the Championship will be held in Baku on June 9-14, 2014, and is expected to bring together 240 gymnasts and 80 officials.
He said there are three reasons to select Baku as a host.
"First, holding the World and European championships in 2005, 2007, 2009 in Baku made us confident that Azerbaijan shows responsibility in holding such championships. The second reason is that Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation is the most reliable and responsible partner of the European Union of Gymnastics, and we have successful relations," Hediger added.
He said the third reason is that gymnastics is kind of Olympic Sports and there is a great interest in gymnastics in Azerbaijan, and state pays great attention.
A gymnastic Olympic complex which is under construction will consist of main and additional hall, Secretary General of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Farid Gaibov said at the event. He said that this will create conditions for other kinds of sports besides gymnastics.
Yesterday, the delegation of the Union familiarized with the new complex, the director of the European Union of Gymnastics Erofejeff Engman said.
"We also observed the training of Azerbaijani gymnasts and saw that there are very active gymnasts in Azerbaijan," Engman said.
