Details added (first version posted on 14:03)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.22
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
Armenia confirmed that it will participate in Baku 2015 First European Games, President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey said on Nov.22.
He made the remarks at a press conference in Baku.
"A few weeks ago I was in Armenia with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach," Hickey said. "The negotiations in Armenia were not tense."
He said the Armenian side also participated in General Assembly that is just concluded.
The Armenian side was represented by two delegates, he said. "I spoke with delegates several times during last 2 days and they are very happy with the way the Assembly was conducted."
Hickey said he represents the organization of 49 national Olympic committees and of course the representatives of 49 are all invited to participate in the first European Games in Baku in 2015.
"We are looking forward to holding the games next year and I know that the Armenian side will be welcomed as one of the 49 competing nations," Hickey said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Baku 2015 is the first ever European Games, an exciting and innovative multi-sport event for the continent which will take place from 12 - 28 June 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.
Eleven of the sports will offer qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Those sports include Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Triathlon, Wrestling and Volleyball.
Baku was awarded the Games by the European Olympic Committees (EOC) in December 2012. The Baku European Games Operations Committee (BEGOC) will organize and run the Games in co-operation with the EOC.
Edited by SI