Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

Azerbaijan's rhythmic gymnastics team has won silver medals at the 29th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships held in Vienna.

The European tournament among juniors took place from May 31 to June 2, 2013. Medals were contested in the team competition as well as in the individual events, such as exercises with a hoop, ball, clubs and ribbon.

During the morning part of the program all eyes were on the Azerbaijani junior team in the group exercises, which included Nilufer Niftalyeva, Gulsum Shafizade, Sabina Hummatova, Alexandra Platonova, Emilia Bagieva and Aynur Mustafaeva. The outstanding Azerbaijani performance received quite high ratings from the judges - 16.550 points, which secured silver medals for the team.

Successful performance of the junior team at the Euro has become a good tradition for Azerbaijan. Over the past four years the national team has confirmed its status, and the current season is no exception.

Despite the complexity of the program the national team had set a pretty a high goal from the beginning. Certainly, it is important for the athletes not only to present themselves properly, but also to rally support of the fans and experts.

The Azerbaijani gymnasts attracted a capacity crowd in Vienna, and they had enthusiastic support not only from Azerbaijani fans, but also from ordinary viewers who had come to watch the European championship and enjoyed the performance of the Azerbaijani athletes.

European championship in 2014

The current championship serves as a springboard for the European Championship in Gymnastics to be held in Baku in 2014. At the closing ceremony in Vienna a flag of the European Union of Gymnastics was handed over to an Azerbaijani delegation, and the continent's leading athletes will now vie for medals in the country's capital next year.

The UEG flag was passed on to Altay Hasanov, Vice President of the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, as a signthat Euro 2014 will be held in Baku.

The 30th rhythmic gymnastics championships will be held in the newly built Olympic complex, Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov said at a press conference organized jointly by the European Union of Gymnastics and the Ministry.

The next championship is to be held in Baku on June 9 -14, 2014, Vice President of the Union Rudolf Hediger said.

240 gymnasts and 80 officials are expected to be involved in the championship.

According to Hediger, there are three reasons why Baku will host the championship.

"First, holding the European and world championships in Baku in 2005, 2007 and 2009 has made us confident that the Azerbaijani government approaches conducting such championships responsibly. The second reason is that the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation is the most reliable and responsible partner of the European Union of Gymnastics and our communication is very successful, " Hediger said, adding that thirdly, gymnastics is an Olympic sport and Azerbaijan is paying much attention to it.

Baku hosted the world championship on rhythmic gymnastics in 2005, and the European championships on gymnastics in 2007 and 2009.