SAVED UP FOR THE EUROPEAN GAMES

Regionplus is continuing its series of materials on the types of sport to be represented at the First European Games in Baku

Archery

The countries taking part in this type of sport were selected according to their ratings and latest achievements. The best shots in Europe will spend seven days competing with each other at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium. The competitions at the European Games are to be conducted according to the Olympic Games format, that is individual, team and also mix groups in the recurve bow category. Sixty-four male archers and 64 female archers will compete for a total of five sets of awards. The participants in the competition will get the opportunity to compete for ratings' scores to take part in the knock-out tournaments to obtain licences for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Belarus, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, Poland, Russia, Spain Turkey, Slovenia, Norway, Denmark, Georgia, Great Britain, Greece and Ukraine have received three quotas each in the men's and women's competitions. Azerbaijan, as the organising country will enter three male and three female archers. Austria, Armenia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, Eire [Republic of Ireland], Israel, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Moldova, Romania, San-Marino, Slovakia, Serbia, Finland, Croatia, Switzerland,  Sweden, Estonia, Iceland and Kosovo will enter one male archer each in the competition.

Water sports

The water sports competitions - diving, swimming and synchronised swimming, which are to take place at the Water Sports Palace promise to be interesting. More than 800 sportspeople will demonstrate their skills to 6,000 spectators in these competitions. Three hundred and sixty water polo players will compete with each other in the temporary water polo arena which accommodates 2,000 people.

Fifty-six sets of medals are to be won at the water sports competitions, selection being made in the manner of the knock-out competitions for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Badminton

The badminton competitions are to be held in the restored Baku Palace of Sport. Watched by 2,000 spectators, 160 sportspeople are to compete for seven days for gold medals in men's and women's singles and doubles, as well as in mixed doubles.

Boxing

At the boxing competitions which are very popular in Azerbaijan 296 knights of the leather glove are to fight it out in the ring for 12 days for 15 sets of awards. The men will fight in 10 weight categories and the women in five. Moreover, the women's weight categories are to be extended from three to five for the first time. The fights will be watched by 3,400 spectators at the Crystal Hall.

Fencing

Europe's master fencers will duel it out to find the strongest before 2,000 spectators in the Crystal Hall as well. Almost 300 masters of the foil, the sword and the sabre will fight it out for six days for 12 sets of awards.

Shooting sports

The competition is to be held at the Baku centre of standing shooting. Roughly 330 men and women are to compete for the top title, winning 19 sets of awards in the pistol-firing and rifle standing shooting in the individual and team categories. More than 700 spectators will be able to watch them. Fifteen of the winning sportsmen in the individual scores will be issued with licences for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Table tennis

The table tennis competitions are to be organised at the Baku Palace of Sport, where 128 sportspeople will compete for medals over a period of seven days. Four sets of medals are to be won in the men's and women's singles and team competitions. The gold medal winners will also be issued with licences to take part in the Summer Olympics in Brazil next summer.

Taekwondo

The taekwondo competitions will be held over a period of four days at the Crystal Hall. Men and women will compete for eight sets of medals in four weight categories. The bouts involving 128 sportspeople competing not only for European Games' medals, but also for high ratings to qualify for the Summer Olympics in 2016, will be watched by 2,000 spectators.

Volleyball

Traditional and beach volleyball are being included in the programme of the First European Games. At the Crystal Hall 336 sportspeople from 24 teams will demonstrate their skill to 6,000 spectators. The beach volleyball tournament, in which 64 teams and 128 sportsmen are to take part, is to be played in the open air in the temporary Beach Arena, which can accommodate 3,700 spectators. The men's and women's teams will compete for the medals over 22 days. The participants will get the chance to earn ratings' scores in order to obtain a licence to enter the beach volleyball tournament at the Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Wrestling

This form of single combat which is the most popular in Azerbaijan will be the most important competition at the First European Games. The bouts at the Heydar Aliyev Sports Arena will be watched by 7,800 spectators. Here 480 sportspeople will compete for gold medals in 24 weight categories. Fans of this type of sport can expect exacting competition for first place in all forms of wrestling - Graeco-Roman, free-style and female wrestling.

Judo

Judo is one of the most developed forms of sport in Azerbaijan. The judo competitions are to be held at the Heydar Aliyev Sports Arena, which complies with the very latest standards. The tournament is to last four days with approximately 350 male and female judokas taking part.  Men who have lost their sight will be taking part in in the over-100-kg weight category for the first time. Women under 48 kg will also be competing for medals for the first time. In total the judokas can win 18 sets of awards. 

We would like to note that, in accordance with a decision of the European Judo Union, this year the European Championship in this type of sport will not take place. The winners of gold medals at the European Games will also be considered to be European champions. The festive opening ceremony of the first European Games in history is to take place on 12 June at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.