AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

The President of the European Union of Gymnastics Georges Guelzec visited Baku recently to study the preparations for the European Games, and also the continental championships which will be held in Azerbaijan next year. He had meetings at the Ministry of Youth and Tourism and the National Olympic Committee and viewed the construction site of the gymnastics arena. During his visit George Guelzec was happy to answer questions from R+.

- It's nice to see you in Baku. How did your visit go?

- My main reason for coming here was to see the new arena where the gymnastics, tumbling and trampoline events will be held as part of the European Championships and the European Games. I met members of the Games Organizing Committee, representatives of the NOC and the Ministry of Youth and Tourism. Of course, I know all about your country's organizing skills. All the international competitions held in Azerbaijan up to now have been organized at the highest level. Azerbaijan is an example to many countries in this regard. Most interest is in the European Games, because they will be first, and so I was very interested in seeing the arena as it is being built.

- Does the new gymnastics arena meet all requirements?

- First of all, the Azerbaijani athletes should be delighted that they have such excellent facilities. When it is complete the arena will be able to stage major competitions. One must congratulate the Azerbaijani Gymnastics Federation for such a splendid stadium. Usually during major competitions some countries lease out specialized arenas where the tournaments are held. But the fact that you have built a separate arena for the gymnasts is worthy of praise.

- In other words, you are happy with what you have seen?

- At the site everything is geared towards comfort for the gymnasts. At the same time, I should point out that the arena is situated quite close to the Olympic Village of the European Games. That's very important because during intensive competition athletes don't want to have to travel long distances. What pleases me most is the speed and quality of the work. Construction work has not only been carried out quickly but tastefully, too.

- At the European Olympic Games your organization will only be represented by gymnastics. Is this because gymnastics is an Olympic sport?

- During my visit I proposed including two more Olympic sports - sports aerobics and acrobatics - in the European Olympics programme. I think everything is geared for this but the final decision is down to the Organizing Committee and the European Olympic Committee.

- What do you think organizing the European Games will give to Azerbaijan?

- The first positive from all this is that Azerbaijan will go down in history. The first ever European Olympic Games will be held in Baku and this will live in the memory for all time. Organizing such a massive competition will enable Baku to compete for holding any large-scale tournament in the future. This will be a real festival for sports lovers. Representatives from nearly 20 different sports will experience the joy of victory here in your city. Holding the European games is a huge honour and a huge responsibility. This is an honour for Baku and it is justifying the hopes placed in it.

- Along with wrestling, several other sports are threatened with exclusion from the summer Olympic Games. Is gymnastics not faced with the same threat?

- I know nothing about that. The IOC is aware of the prestige of gymnastics throughout the world and the interest there is in it. The exclusion of wrestling from the Games programme was a surprise, but I don't think the same thing will happen to gymnastics. Our sport brings audience appeal and grace to the Olympics.

- The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship planned for next year will be licensed. This will probably mean tougher competition…

- The continental championship has always stood out from other competitions in the positive sense of the word. Gymnastics has become very developed in Europe, and so competition will undoubtedly be tough. The championship will be licensed for the European Games in 2015, and so this tournament is doubly important for each gymnast. I am sure that your country will compete at the highest level. I have already been in Azerbaijan during a European championship and have seen organization at a high level. I can therefore confidently say that the organizational work carried out in Baku should be an example to all. I think that after Azerbaijan it will be hard to stage the European Championships and the European Games. All countries know how very difficult it is to repeat such a standard of organization.

- Are any other tournaments, apart from the European Championship, expected to be held in Baku? 

- Baku has already staged a number of top competitions in rhythmic gymnastics. I believe Azerbaijan is capable of staging any competition in Olympic gymnastics, too. All the conditions are in place for that and I am sure that such competitions will be held in Baku in the future.