FIG World Challenge Cup in Artistic Gymnastics solemnly opens in Baku
Opening ceremony for the FIG World Challenge Cup in Artistic
Gymnastics was held on the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku on
February 19.
Addressing the event, Ismayil Ismayilov, Azerbaijan’s deputy
minister of youth and sport said that artistic gymnastics is a
sport enjoyed around the world and in Azerbaijan as well.
“I would like to emphasize that after Azerbaijan’s first lady,
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva was
elected the president of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, the
attention and interest in artistic gymnastics has significantly
increased,” he said.
In recent years, the development of sport in Azerbaijan has been in
the spotlight of the international community, according to the
deputy minister. Ismayilov noted that Azerbaijan has become the
host country of very prestigious international competitions.
The First European Games, world and European championships and
international tournaments are organized in the country at the
highest level and in line with modern standards, he added.
Ismayilov expressed confidence that the FIG World Challenge Cup in
Artistic Gymnastics will be held at the highest level as well.
President of the women’s artistic gymnastics technical committee at
International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), female Olympic
champion Nellie Kim has greeted the athletes, delegates and
participants.
She said that the work carried out by Azerbaijan Gymnastics
Federation on the development of all kinds of gymnastics already
bears fruit today. Baku holds the FIG World Challenge Cup in
Artistic Gymnastics on an arena, which has all the necessary
conditions for organizing important events, according to her.
“Today we are still at the beginning of the way that leads to the
Olympics,” Kim said. “Success of each gymnast contributes to the
overall development of our kind of gymnastics. I express my
gratitude to the local organizing committee for a responsible
approach to all the types of work carried out to hold these
competitions at the high level.”
Kim wished success to all the athletes.
Further, addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-President of
Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Altay Hasanov greeted the
athletes, guests and sport fans.
“An opening of the National Gymnastics Arena, where we have
gathered today, took place in April of 2014 with participation of
President of the country Ilham Aliyev and his spouse, President of
Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva,” he
said.
“In June of the same year, the arena hosted the European
Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics,” he said, adding that the
competitions in six gymnastics disciplines were held on this field
of play within the framework of Baku 2015 First European Games.
“Our gymnasts won seven medals at these competitions in total. Five
of them passed into the possession of artistic gymnasts,” said
Hasanov.
He recalled that last year, for the first time in history of
Artistic Gymnastics of the independent Azerbaijan, Oleg Stepko, won
the bronze medal of the World Championships.
“Namely, these victories encourage us to hold the World Challenge
Cup in Artistic Gymnastics for the first time today,” said the AGF
vice-president.
He expressed confidence that this challenge will also be fulfilled
with dignity, and, in close cooperation with the International
Federation of Gymnastics, organization of such tournaments in
Azerbaijan will become a tradition.
“Today, there are quite strong and well-known athletes among the
event’s competitors. I welcome the gymnasts, members of the
delegations and wish them new victories,” said Hasanov.
“I am sure that we will hear about their success at the Olympic
Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro,” he added.
“I express my gratitude to each member of the Organizing Committee,
who contributed to the organization of this competition, the
audience gathered here and congratulate all of you with another
gymnastics festival,” said the AGF vice-president.
“I announce the FIG World Challenge Cup AGF Trophy in Artistic
Gymnastics open!” he said.
Further, “The Future of Azerbaijani Gymnastics” composition was presented at the opening ceremony. Young Azerbaijani athletes participated in the composition that lasted 15 minutes and was accompanied by national Azerbaijani music.
The colorful show involved representatives of all six types of gymnastics - women's and men's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, acrobatics and aerobics. Each of them performed various gymnastic elements, accompanied by the national music.
Moreover, national dances with gymnastic elements were performed during the composition.
The FIG World Challenge Cup in Artistic Gymnastics started in
Baku on Feb. 19 and is to end Feb. 21. As many as 45 male and 22
female gymnasts will compete for medals in Apparatus Finals of the
World Challenge Cup. In general, athletes from 19 countries will
participate at the event.
Qualifications both among men and women on the first two days of
the competitions will be followed by Apparatus Finals on the last
day.Opening ceremony for the FIG World Challenge Cup in Artistic
Gymnastics was held on the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku Feb.
19.
Addressing the event, Ismayil Ismayilov, Azerbaijan’s deputy
minister of youth and sport said that artistic gymnastics is a
sport enjoyed around the world and in Azerbaijan as well.
“I would like to emphasize that after Azerbaijan’s first lady,
President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva was
elected the president of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, the
attention and interest in artistic gymnastics has significantly
increased,” he said.
In recent years, the development of sport in Azerbaijan has been in
the spotlight of the international community, according to the
deputy minister. Ismayilov noted that Azerbaijan has become the
host country of very prestigious international competitions.
The First European Games, world and European championships and
international tournaments are organized in the country at the
highest level and in line with modern standards, he added.
Ismayilov expressed confidence that the FIG World Challenge Cup in
Artistic Gymnastics will be held at the highest level as well.
President of the women’s artistic gymnastics technical committee at
International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), female Olympic
champion Nellie Kim has greeted the athletes, delegates and
participants.
She said that the work carried out by Azerbaijan Gymnastics
Federation on the development of all kinds of gymnastics already
bears fruit today. Baku holds the FIG World Challenge Cup in
Artistic Gymnastics on an arena, which has all the necessary
conditions for organizing important events, according to her.
“Today we are still at the beginning of the way that leads to the
Olympics,” Kim said. “Success of each gymnast contributes to the
overall development of our kind of gymnastics. I express my
gratitude to the local organizing committee for a responsible
approach to all the types of work carried out to hold these
competitions at the high level.”
Kim wished success to all the athletes.
Further, addressing the opening ceremony, Vice-President of
Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Altay Hasanov greeted the
athletes, guests and sport fans.
“An opening of the National Gymnastics Arena, where we have
gathered today, took place in April of 2014 with participation of
President of the country Ilham Aliyev and his spouse, President of
Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva,” he
said.
“In June of the same year, the arena hosted the European
Championships in Rhythmic Gymnastics,” he said, adding that the
competitions in six gymnastics disciplines were held on this field
of play within the framework of Baku 2015 First European Games.
“Our gymnasts won seven medals at these competitions in total. Five
of them passed into the possession of artistic gymnasts,” said
Hasanov.
He recalled that last year, for the first time in history of
Artistic Gymnastics of the independent Azerbaijan, Oleg Stepko, won
the bronze medal of the World Championships.
“Namely, these victories encourage us to hold the World Challenge
Cup in Artistic Gymnastics for the first time today,” said the AGF
vice-president.
He expressed confidence that this challenge will also be fulfilled
with dignity, and, in close cooperation with the International
Federation of Gymnastics, organization of such tournaments in
Azerbaijan will become a tradition.
“Today, there are quite strong and well-known athletes among the
event’s competitors. I welcome the gymnasts, members of the
delegations and wish them new victories,” said Hasanov.
“I am sure that we will hear about their success at the Olympic
Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro,” he added.
“I express my gratitude to each member of the Organizing Committee,
who contributed to the organization of this competition, the
audience gathered here and congratulate all of you with another
gymnastics festival,” said the AGF vice-president.
“I announce the FIG World Challenge Cup AGF Trophy in Artistic
Gymnastics open!” he said.
Further, “The Future of Azerbaijani Gymnastics” composition was presented at the opening ceremony. Young Azerbaijani athletes participated in the composition that lasted 15 minutes and was accompanied by national Azerbaijani music.
The colorful show involved representatives of all six types of gymnastics - women's and men's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, acrobatics and aerobics. Each of them performed various gymnastic elements, accompanied by the national music.
Moreover, national dances with gymnastic elements were performed during the composition.
The FIG World Challenge Cup in Artistic Gymnastics started in
Baku on Feb. 19 and is to end Feb. 21. As many as 45 male and 22
female gymnasts will compete for medals in Apparatus Finals of the
World Challenge Cup. In general, athletes from 19 countries will
participate at the event.
Qualifications both among men and women on the first two days of
the competitions will be followed by Apparatus Finals on the last
day.
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