AN UNFORGETTABLE SHOW

The organisational and preparation work for the First European Games which are to take place in Baku in June is nearing completion. The list of sportspeople and official delegations that are coming to Baku is being drawn up, and construction of the sports facilities is being completed.

All these issues were discussed at the fifth session of the European Olympic Committee's Coordinating Commission. Azerbaijan's first lady Mehriban Aliyeva, who is the chairwoman of the Organising Committee of the "Baku-15" First European Games detailed the work done and the plans.  

 "Many of our places are ready for holding the games and are undergoing inspections. The inspection is being organised for the purpose of checking that every detail is ready, to ensure the sportspeople's top level performance this summer. Thirty-five trial events and competitions are to be held before the opening of the Games in June. Regular trial events in gymnastics, boxing and wrestling are to take place in March and April. We plan to complete the construction of a permanent base for all the facilities before the end of February.

The concluding of 84 per cent of our contracts with Azerbaijani companies that have been working together with our team day and night is a positive factor. Our world-class Athletes' Village consists of more than 1,000 flats with 7,300 beds," M. Aliyeva said.

.She noted that the European Games will be covered by more than 600 representatives of the international and local media. Forty-three companies have been granted the right to broadcast the event to more than 100 countries, so people will be able to watch the Games in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America and Australia. What is more, more than 16,000 volunteers have applied to work at the Games. 

The chairwoman of the First  European Games' Organising Committee also drew attention to the fact that the government has invested a large sum in the currently operating transport infrastructure and stressed that an unforgettable show will be staged at the opening ceremony. Besides this, M. Aliyeva said that a special programme of cultural events has been arranged for every day and the closing ceremony will also be memorable.

The European Olympic Committee's Coordinating Commission has evaluated the preparations for the "Baku-2015" First European Games" very highly. There will be a few non-Olympic sports represented at the European Games as well, including sporting aerobics. In this sport the gymnasts demonstrate sophisticated aerobic moves, joint performance of these elements and so forth to musical accompaniment. In keeping with the European Games format, each country can enter a team of five gymnasts and a mixed pair, 

Regionplus is presenting, Anastasia Koltunova and Vladimir Dolmatov as a mixed pair in the sports aerobics, and they are representing Azerbaijan in the European Games.

A. Koltunova took up sport late, but then sports aerobics became a way of life. "There weren't any sportsmen in my family. But now my family is proud of my sporting achievements and supports me in every way they can. I took up sport when I was 10 years old, although that was considered a fairly late age for a gymnast. I was attracted to aerobics because it was so varied, embracing elements of sporting and artistic gymnastics, as well as acrobatics. Besides this, the entire programme is fast moving to a musical accompaniment. In spite of the fact that I came to the sport at a late age, I am really keen on my training. You can achieve good results in any type of sport if you want to," A. Koltunova told R+.

Koltunova's partner Vladimir Dolmatov has noted that he has his own method of preparing for every competition. "I make believe that I am in a training session, and that there is no one in the hall except my coach and me. I perform my routine and try not to make mistakes. The most important thing in sport is to set yourself a target and strive for it. It makes you feel really good and the tiredness disappears, when you achieve success after training for a long time. You have to take risks in any kind of sport. If you think carefully about your approach, you can avoid mistakes as well."

At the European Games Koltunova and Dolmatov are going to perform as a pair. They are actively undergoing training to present a complicated programme to the best of their ability.

"For me the European Games is the most important competition. It is a great honour to take part in such a prestigious tournament. It is a plus that the Games are to be held in Baku. This means that the sportsmen have a greater feeling of responsibility. It is my aim to perform in a worthy manner at the European Games," A. Koltunova said.

V. Dolmatov believes that he knows the secret of achieving success at the European Games. "The Games provide us with an opportunity to show what we can do. I hope to give a top-class performance, no matter what, clenching my teeth. I will be nervous. But it is important to get a grip on oneself. Sportsmen who are striving for success should get the better of their feelings. Azerbaijan is capable of holding the Games on a high level. And we sportsmen should strive to attain good results to match what the organisation has done," Dolmatov said.

Besides sports aerobics, sporting and artistic gymnastics, acrobatics and displays on the trampoline are also being represented. 

In the latter sport Azerbaijan is represented by two girls and two boys. The coaches are placing great hopes in one of them, Ilya Grishin. "As far as winning medals in the European Games is concerned, I should at least get a bronze. I am putting every effort into my training for the competitions, since this will be the most important tournament for me. This is particularly because the competitions are being held here in our country, in Baku. This is why people are training as hard as they can. All the gymnasts believe that the main aim is to win medals. We shall get a great deal of pleasure out of participating in these Games, and we hope to further boost these moments of joy with our victories. The competition will be a top-level one. All Europe's best sportsmen are coming together in Baku, and each of them is aiming for a medal. You see, this is the first time that the European Games have been held, and each sportsman who wins a medal will go down in history," Grishin told R+.

He noted that the European Games will be a big test for him. "I think that, if we perform well right from the early days, that will be an incentive to everyone. For some sportsmen these games will be a new stage in their career. But time is running out. Therefore every training session and preparation for the tournament is vital," Grishin said.

Thus, Azerbaijan is preparing to hold top-level games that will make Europe proud. These Games will become a historic event in European sport. For Azerbaijan this is a good opportunity to tell the world more about our country, its traditions, culture and historical roots.