Baku, Azerbaijan, April 26
By Vahid Bayramov, Azad Hasanli – Trend:
Azerbaijan hosts almost all the European and world competitions at the highest level, Azerbaijani MP Rauf Aliyev told Trend on April 26.
"FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, AGF Trophy is being held in Baku today, in which gymnasts from 39 countries are taking part,” he added. “Azerbaijan will host the 35th European Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics on May 16 and a week later - the 11th European Championships in Aerobic Gymnastics."
Aliyev stressed that such a number of events being held in the country testifies to the big state support.
“Sports in Azerbaijan is developing every day,” he added.
While speaking about gymnastics, Aliyev highlighted the role of Azerbaijani First Vice-President, President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Aliyeva in the development of this kind of sports.
"For the shortest possible time, the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation has managed to achieve great success,” he added. “The performances of our gymnasts at the Olympics, World and European Championships testify to that."
Aliyev stressed that once Azerbaijan did not have the necessary technical base for holding such events, but to date, all conditions have been already created in the country for holding events at the highest level.
The FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, AGF Trophy kicked off at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku on April 26.
More than 200 gymnasts from 39 countries are participating in the World Cup. During the event, 25 teams are competing in group exercises and more than 70 gymnasts are performing in individual programs.
Azerbaijan is being represented by Zohra Aghamirova and Veronika Hudis in the individual program, while Ayna Jafarova, Simara Jafarova, Gullyu Agalarzade, Narin Gurbanova, Narmin Jahangirova and Sona Rakhmanova in the group exercises.
Individual Qualifications is being held on April 26 as follows: All-Around: Group A - Hoop, Ball; All-Around: Group B - Hoop, Ball; All-Around: Group C - Hoop, Ball and Groups’ Qualifications All-Around - five Balls.
Individual Qualifications will be held on April 27 as follows: All-Around: Group A – Clubs, Ribbon; All-Around: Group B - Clubs, Ribbon; All-Around: Group C - Clubs, Ribbon and Groups’ Qualifications All-Around - three Hoops and two pairs of Clubs.
The winners in all-round competitions will be named after the Individual Apparatus Finals (hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon) and Groups’ Apparatus Finals (five balls, three hoops and two pairs of clubs) and awarded on April 28.
The gymnast and the team in the group exercises with the highest score for the performance will be traditionally awarded with the AGF Trophy Cup.