OFFICIAL NEWS
BAKU RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS WORLD CUP QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT STARTED
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV ATTENDED THE CEREMONY
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Khanum Aliyeva who were cheered by the audience attended the ceremony.
Along with the Azerbaijani sportsmen, by 47 representatives from 22 world countries – Germany, Turkey, Belarus, Bulgaria, Russia, Spain, Georgia, Italy, Czech, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Poland, Uzbekistan, Hungary, Republic of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Greece, Japan, India, Portugal and Sweden attended the tournament.
5 gymnasts represent Azerbaijan at the contests. They are: Dinara Gimatova, who gained license to the forthcoming Athens Olympic, Anna Gurbanova, Vafa Huseynova, Dina Gorina and Valeriya Yegay.
The tournament organized jointly by Federation Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Tourism in common with Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation, is televised to the world countries.
After the state anthem of Azerbaijan was performed, the participants revered memory of the national leader of Azerbaijan President Heydar Aliyev with a moment of silence.
Then, the national sportsmen accompanied by music and with state flags in their hands entered the hall.
A documentary narrating on the care and attention by Country’s leadership for sports was demonstrated.
Minister of youth, sports and tourism Abulfaz Garayev opened the ceremony. He welcomed the participants and wished everybody success.
Then, with a welcoming speech, Ms. Egle ABRUZZINI, President of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Technical Committee addressed the tournament participants.
FIG RG-TC President Mrs. Egle Abruzzini thanked the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation Mehriban Khanum Aliyeva, the minister of youth, sports and tourism for organizing such a tournament. She highly estimated activity of Organizing Committee and expressed confidence that the contests would pass in high level.
In the morning on the same day, athletes participating hors concours have demonstrated their skills.
Speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament, heads of ministries, departments, committees, and foreign ambassadors attended the opening ceremony.