Special European Games ends in Belgium
By Amina Nazarli
Antwerp in Belgium said good-bye to the athletes who took part
in Special European Games with a heart-warming show on September
21.
The Special Olympics EU Games 2014 wrapped up with a spectacular
closing ceremony. The farewell show reunited 2000 athletes with
intellectual disabilities from the 58 delegations of Europe and
Eurasia. The athletes competed in 11 sports.
Azerbaijani delegation composed of 42 athletes.
The national sportsmen showed their successful performances in the Olympics including athletics, badminton, basketball, judo, table tennis and swimming ,winning 20 medals, namely eight gold, eight silver and four bronze medals.
In athletics event, Parviz Mustafayev (IV division) at 100m, Ayten Abdullayeva (I division) at standing long jump, Baharkhanim Alipanahova (II division) at 50m, Elnur Rahmanov at 57,5kg on judo, Niyaz Ismailov (IX division) on badminton and Habib Tagiyev (VI division) and Vusala Burjiyeva (VI division) on table tennis mixed doubles won the gold medals. On basketball Azerbaijani team defeated the team from Greece and claimed the first place.
The winners of the silver medals became Hasanaga Aliyev (VI division) at long jump, Ayten Abdullayeva (I division) at 50m, Baharkhanim Alipanakhova at standing long jump, Mehman Sheydayev (I division) at softball throw, on badminton event Tyfa Musayeva (III division) and Zaur Eyvazov (III division) and on table tennis single Habib Tagiyev (VI division) and Vusala Burjiyeva (VI division).
Hasanaga Aliyev at 100m, Aflatun Hasanov at 48kg and Bashir Hasanov at 49kg on judo and Rudolf Hajimahammadov on swimming gained the bronze medals.
Next summer, the 2015 Special Olympics World Games will take place in Los Angeles, California, USA from July 25 until August 2. Some 7000 athletes with an intellectual disability will participate in the event and 500.000 spectators are expected to watch the Games.