First quota places confirmed for Baku 2015 European Games
By Nigar Orujova
The first quota places for the European Games in Baku 2015 were confirmed and announced to the relevant National Olympic Committees.
Baku Games has allocated 120 aerobics and trampoline quota places to a total of 22 NOCs, following the European Aerobic Championships in France and the European Trampoline Championships in Portugal.
The first athletes who compete at the first European Games will soon be offered competition places by their NOCs.
The Georgian NOC was the first NOC to confirm their acceptance of the quota places. Azerbaijan, as the host NOC, will be able to compete with a maximum of four trampoline and six aerobic athletes.
"Today marks an important milestone in our journey in delivering the inaugural European Games in Baku with the allocation of the first quota places to the NOCs," Chief Operating Officer of Baku European Games Operation Committee Simon Clegg said.
In the coming months, further announcements and athlete selections will help build the excitement and anticipation of the event both in Azerbaijan and across the Europe, he said.
"Athletes will be at the heart of our Games, and we congratulate those who have achieved quota places for their countries. Those selected can be assured of a generous and warm welcome in Baku next summer," Clegg said.
Director of Athlete Services and Operations James Macleod said, "We have been in contact with a total of 22 National Olympic Committees from across Europe to inform them of the number of quota places allocated to them."
This marks more progress in the countdown to the European Games and will allow NOCs across Europe to begin planning their team's participation in the Games, he said.
Baku Games 2015 will feature the three traditional disciplines of artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline, and two new non-Olympic disciplines of aerobic and acrobatic.
Competitions will be held at the striking National Gymnastics Arena, situated close to the Baku 2015 Athletes Village, which was officially opened recently by Azerbaijan's First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva.
Gymnastics competition will be held in six days with a total of 446 male and female gymnasts representing their countries in individual, group, and mixed events.
At the games, gymnastics competitions will offer a total of 34 medals across the five disciplines, the second highest number of medal opportunities in any sport after aquatics.
The 6,800-seat venue will be one of the first to host a test event - the 30th European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships- in June.
Europe's first senior multi-sport event will consist of more than 6,000 athletes from the 49 countries affiliated to the European Olympic Committees competing in 19 sports in Baku on June 12-28.
The Baku Games' program includes aquatics, archery, athletics, badminton, basketball 3x3, beach soccer, boxing, canoe sprint, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, judo, karate, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, volleyball, and wrestling.