First European Games successfully fulfill its mission
The First European Games successfully fulfilled its mission to unite people of various countries, said Michael Vesper, the Director General of German Olympic Sports Confederation.
Vesper hailed the European Games as an event uniting and amazing the people of various countries, AzerTac state news agency reported citing Die Zeit newspaper.
He noted that the main task of national and international sports associations is to promote integration as part of sporting events, fight against discrimination, ensure the environmental protection and strengthen economic sustainability.
"Sport is a global movement and each country has its own word. Sport should not be politicized and it should not be equated with politics. Because sport has the power to gather and inspire people."
"The first European Games held in Baku has successfully fulfilled this mission. Azerbaijani and Armenian, Ukrainian and Russian, Kosovo and Serbian athletes' staying together in the Athletes Village in Baku, their exercising and following the same rules can be shown as an example. It can also be assessed as a message to the world which is full of conflicts."
Commenting on the European Parliament's hearings on Azerbaijan on the eve of the first European Games, Vesper described Azerbaijan as "an important partner", adding "it is not right to behave in this way".
He said some parliamentarians demanded that German athletes be sent to Baku under certain conditions. "But Germany participated in the European Games and it was a right decision. German athletes acted as ambassadors of the country in Baku. They are the symbols of tolerance and justice."
The First European Games kicked off in Baku June 12 and wrapped up June 28. The Games hosted 20 sports – 16 Olympic and four non-Olympic sports. Over 6,000 athletes represented the European countries at Baku 2015.
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